TS 3238 Plastics - General Methods for Ash Content Determination

EUROLAB, with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, provides precise and fast testing services within the scope of TS 3238 test. This standard specifies general methods and appropriate test conditions for the determination of ash content in certain plastics such as resins and mixtures.

The specific requirements applicable to poly(vinyl chloride) plastics, including poly(alkylene terephthalate) materials, unplasticized cellulose acetate, polyamides, and some special filled, glass fiber reinforced and flame retardant materials are specified in EN ISO 3451.

The determination of the ash of an organic substance is possible by three main methods:

• Direct calcination, i.e. by burning the organic matter and heating the residue at high temperature until constant mass is reached (method A);
• Calcination after sulfation, which can be performed by two different procedures.
• By post-combustion sulfuric acid treatment, i.e. by burning the organic matter, converting the inorganic residue to sulfates with concentrated sulfuric acid, and heating the residue at high temperature until constant mass is reached; This is the common method of obtaining "sulphated ash" (method B).
• Before combustion, by the sulfuric acid treatment, i.e. heating the organic matter with concentrated sulfuric acid to temperatures at which evaporation and subsequent combustion of the organic matter occurs, and finally heating the residue at high temperature until constant mass is reached; This procedure can be used if volatile metal halides are likely to evaporate during combustion of organic matter. Not applicable to silicones or fluorine-containing polymers (method C).

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with TS 3238 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.