ASTM D6954 Standard Test for Detection of Environmentally Degradable Plastics by a Combination of Oxidation and Biodegradation

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of ASTM D6954 standard. This guide provides a framework or roadmap for comparing and ranking controlled laboratory degradation rates and the extent of physical property losses by thermal and photooxidation processes of polymers, as well as biodegradation and ecological effects in defined applications and disposal environments after degradation.

Disposal environments range from soil, storage and compost exposure, where thermal oxidation can occur, and land cover and agricultural use, where photooxidation can also occur.

This guide uses three tiers of established ASTM International standards for accelerating and measuring loss in property and molecular weight by both thermal and photooxidation processes and other abiotic processes (Tier 1), measuring biodegradation (Tier 2), and ecological assessment.

The stage 1 conditions chosen for thermal oxidation and photooxidation accelerate the degradation likely to occur in a chosen application and disposal environment. Conditions should include a range of moisture or water concentrations depending on the application and disposal environment.

The rate of degradation, measured at typical oxidation temperatures, is required to compare and rank polymers under consideration in this chosen application (using ASTM International biometric tests for CO2) to arrive at a molecular weight that forms a biodegradable residue.

Residues from oxidations are then exposed to appropriate disposal or use environments in standard biometric testing methods to measure the rate and extent of biodegradation (Tier 2).

The data generated under the Tier 1 evaluation and the time determined for biodegradation in the selected medium (Tier 2) allow ranking against other polymers evaluated under similar environmental conditions as this guideline.

The extent and duration of biodegradation should be consistent with ASTM International methods and any residue from the intermediate oxidation stage and biodegradation should be demonstrated to be environmentally benign rather than persistent (Tier 3).

This standard does not purport to address all, if any, safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health and environmental practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory restrictions prior to use.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with ASTM D6954 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.