LCS Laboratory offers testing for polymer off-gassing rate. Off-gassing is a process where polymers, or any other material, emit volatile components carried away by air. The off-gassing process can often be identified by the persistent chemical smell of newly manufactured parts. Off-gassing can be caused by a number of reasons. The most common mechanisms are as follows:
- Physical evaporation of volatile’s trapped inside the polymer volume. For example: evaporation of residual solvents, impurities, oligomers or additives.
- Evaporation of the solvents from the external surface of the part. This process would be similar to the drying of paint or varnish
- Slow chemical reactions inside the polymer volume, like ongoing poly-condensation or curing.
- Polymer surface hydrolysis, oxidation, or biodegradation due to a reaction with air and it components.
LCS Laboratory offers 6, 30, and 55 hour tests. The tests are performed at normal or elevated temperatures. Relative humidity of the test air in contact with the sample can be varied from 0% to ambient, and up to 80% RH. The sample can be tested in its commercial form or as a dust. Gases and vapors emitted from the sample can be tested as “total vapors” or individually. If the chemical composition of the emitted vapor is unknown, we can identify the individual vapors.
We offer the following procedures, each of them describe the off-gassing process differently:
- Off-gassing screening. Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC-PID).
- Open characterization of off-gassing products. Add-on procedure to the TVOC-PID test.
- Off-gassing study. Monitoring of individual organic and inorganic compounds emitted by a polymer.
With 20 years of experience in analytical chemistry and air testing we can help you to study emission of gases and vapors produced by your product. Please email us to discuss your project and find the best approach for your product.
