Testing acc. to ISO 177: Plastics – Determination of migration of plasticizers
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Our test laboratory performs testing according to DIN EN ISO 177 to determine the tendency of plasticizers to migrate from plastics into adjacent materials. The method evaluates the extent to which constituents of a plasticized material can migrate during close contact into another material, another plastic or an organic surface coating.
The test is particularly suitable for plasticized materials in the form of films and sheets as well as products manufactured from them. Coated substrates, such as textiles coated with plasticized vinyl resins, can also be investigated. The method is therefore relevant to plastics, elastomers and foils as well as coated textiles and plastic roll goods.
Testing according to DIN EN ISO 177
A specimen of the plastic under investigation is placed between two plasticizer-absorbing contact discs and stored under defined pressure and at elevated temperature. Suitable reference materials can be used as the contact material. For application-specific investigations, the material with which the plastic will actually come into contact during its intended use can also be selected.
After exposure, the specimen and the contact discs are weighed again. The loss in mass of the plastic and the increase in mass of the absorbing contact discs are used to evaluate migration. The standard test condition uses an exposure period of 24 hours at 70 °C; depending on the application, other temperatures or longer test periods can also be used to investigate the progression of migration over time.
Applications of the test
DIN EN ISO 177 enables plasticized materials to be compared with regard to their tendency to release mobile constituents into adjacent materials. This is relevant, for example, to flexible PVC films, plastic roll goods, coated textiles and other material assemblies in which plasticizer migration can cause changes at contact surfaces.
The method can be used to compare material formulations, different plasticizer systems and migration barriers. It can also investigate the influence of contact material or application temperature on migration. The test determines mass changes resulting from migration; it is not a chemical analysis for identifying or quantifying a specific individual plasticizer.
Related tests
Migration fastness according to DIN EN ISO 15701 evaluates the transfer of colourants from leather and other materials into a polymeric material. For textiles and coated textiles, DIN EN ISO 105-X10 is available for determining the migration of textile colours into polyvinyl chloride coatings.
Here you will also find an overview of our range of tests according to DIN, CEN and ISO standards.
