ASTM D8280 Determination of the Blooming of Brominated Flame Retardants by Ion Chromatography

ASTM D8280 test method determines the amount of the brominated flame retardants present on the plastic surface. The bromide deposits are collected from the chromatographic paper placed on the surface of the plastic, and the total amount of bromine obtained through this method is then calculated with the help of an integrator.

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Introduction

The ASTM D8280 test method determines the amount of brominated flame retardants on the plastic surface. The collected bromide deposits from the chromatographic paper are placed on the plastic surface, and the total amount of bromine obtained through this method is then calculated with the help of an integrator.

Scope

The ASTM D8280 test method uses an ion exchange chromatographic technique to measure the bromide released from the flame retardant on the plastic surface. This highly efficient method can collect a lot of bromide within the desired period. Charge-basis ion-exchange chromatography helps to separate bromide easily. Among all the flame retardants, brominated ones are frequently used because they are quite effective on plastic surfaces.

Procedure

The ASTM D8280 test method involves aging the two plastic material samples at 70°C for 14 and 35 days. The test also uses unaged material. A flag is made from chromatographic paper to pour the deposit from the aged and unaged surfaces. Then, these flags are analyzed using the Schöniger method. During this method, the sample is mixed with pure oxygen, which is absorbed by the sodium hydroxide solution. Now, ion exchange chromatography is used to estimate the congregation of the bromide into the solution. In the end, the total amount of bromide obtained from the flame retardant that comes out on the surface of the plastic is calculated with the help of an integrator or data analyzer.

Data

The following equation is used in ASTM D8280 to calculate the blooming of the bromide:

BL (μg ⁄ cm²)= [((Csa × Vsa ÷ Ssa) -B) ×100/ Rec]

BL=BL₁+BL₂

BL= bromide blooming

BL₁+ BL₂= blooming of flame retardant through the first and second flag of filter paper

Sample

The sample details are as follows.

Aspect	Value
Length	125+6 5 mm
Width	13.0+6 0.5 mm
Thickness	3.0 (−0.0 +0.2) mm. (Minimum value)
Radius	Less than or equal to 1.3 mm

Result

The results of the ASTM D8280 test provide the concentration of bromide blooming on the plastic surface, quantified in micrograms per square centimeter (µg/cm²). These values help assess brominated flame retardants’ effectiveness and surface migration behavior.

Conclusion

ASTM D8280 test method provides an effective and reliable means to quantify the blooming of brominated flame retardants on plastic surfaces. The technique efficiently measures the release of bromide ions through ion exchange chromatography, giving insight into the migration and effectiveness of brominated flame retardants. Determination of the amount of bromine liberated with time, as well as unaged and aged plastic samples, is necessary to evaluate the long-term performance and safety of various flame retardants used in plastics. This test method can help ascertain whether brominated flame retardants conform to appropriate levels of industry standards and compliance requirements, thereby optimizing their application in plastics.

FAQs

What is ASTM D8280?

The ASTM D8280 test method measures the blooming of brominated flame retardants on plastic surfaces. The amount of bromide emerging from the flame retardants is quantified using the corresponding ion exchange chromatography method.

How is the blooming of brominated flame retardants measured in ASTM D8280?

The blooming is measured by collecting the bromide deposits from the plastic surface using chromatographic paper. The amount of bromine is then quantified through ion exchange chromatography and calculated using a data integrator or analyzer.

What is the significance of aging the plastic samples in this test?

Exposing the plastic samples at 70°C for 14 and 35 days emulates the application environment and enables the determination of stability and surface migration conjugated to the brominated flame retardants.

What are the typical plastic sample dimensions required for this test?

The plastic test specimens should be 125+6 5 mm long and 13.0+6 0.5 mm wide. The plastic bar should have a minimum thickness of 3.0 (−0.0 +0.2) mm. The edges should be smooth, and the radius on the corners shall not exceed 1.3 mm.

Why is ion exchange chromatography used in this test?

Ion exchange chromatography is used because it effectively isolates and quantifies bromide ions according to their charge to precisely measure bromine released from the flame retardant on the plastic's surface.