ASTM D5227 Measurement of Hexane Extractable Content of Polyolefins

Scope:

The ASTM D5227 test method measures the hexane extractable content of polyolefins. This test method can be used to figure out how much hexane-soluble low molecular weight material is in polyolefins. This approach for assessing polyolefin hexane extractables was modified by the  Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ASTM D5227 test method is suitable for resins with a  maximum extractable content of 0.20 %.

Procedure:

For ASTM D5227, film samples are extracted with hexane for 2 hours at 49.5 ± 0.5°C, which are then dried, and weighed. The weight of the residue extract in the solvent, determined by solvent evaporation in the FDA protocol, is assumed to be identical to the amount extracted from the film sample in this analytical procedure. Then, the weight loss of the extracted film is quantified by measuring the weight loss of the extracted film, obviating the need for a complex and time-consuming evaporation process.

Specimen size:

For ASTM D5227 test procedure, 2.7 g of the film sample (4 mils or less in thickness) is used as a test specimen.

Data:
The weight percent of the extractable present in the original sample is calculated in ASTM D5227 testing as follows:

Hexane extractable, % = (A-B) x 100 x 0.935 / A

where,
A = weight of the original sample film, g.

B = weight of the film after extraction, g.
0.935 = correlation factor to eliminate the bias between the original FDA technique and this alternate test method.

Conclusion:

The ASTM D5227 test method measures the hexane extractable content of polyolefins.