Physico-Chemical Property Measurements

Physical chemistry testing generates data required to attain regulatory compliance, support research and development, product development and technical support. Registration and compliance with an authority such as ECHA and full regulatory chemical characterisation and identity testing are services which are only available from expert sources. Physico-chemical testing forms a significant part of the data package for GHS, Canadian GHS, REACH, Biocide Product Regulation and registration across many regions. This data can be vital in designing the appropriate toxicological and ecotoxicological test packages or for determining safe handling and Chemical Hazard Communication (HazCom). Intertek performs physical chemistry tests according to the REACH Annex VII (Regulation (EC) 440/2008) and OECD Guidelines.

Physical Chemistry Data Package:

• Melting Temperature/Freezing Temperature – OECD 102/EU A1
• Boiling Temperature – OECD 103/EU A2
• Relative Density – OECD 109/EU A3
• Vapour Pressure – OECD 104/EU A4
• Surface Tension – OECD 115/EU A5
• Dissociation Constant – OECD 112
• Viscosity – OECD 114
• Hydrolysis as a function of pH- OECD 111
• Water Solubility – OECD 105/EU A6
• Partition Coefficient (HPLC) – OECD 107/EU A8
• Partition Coefficient (Shake Flask) – OECD 107/EU A8
• Thermal stability – OECD 113
• Flash point (Liquid only) – EU A9, ASTM D93,D92, D56, D3278, D3828
• Flammability (Solid on ignition) – EU A10
• Flammability (Gases) - EU A11
• Flammability (Contact with Water) - EU A12
• Flammability Limits (LFL, UFL) – ASTM E681
• Pyrophoric Properties of Solids and Liquids - EU A13
• Explosive Properties (Liquid) – EU A14
• Explosive Properties (Solid) – EU A14
• Auto-ignition Temperature (Liquid) – EU A15, ASTM E659, D2155 and EN 14522
• Relative Self-ignition Temperature (Solid) – EU A16
• Oxidising Properties (Solid) – EU A17
• Oxidising Properties (Liquid) – EU A21

Physico-chemical measurements on aqueous solutions:

• pH
• Dissociation Constant – OECD 112
• logD (octanol: water distribution coefficient)
• Viscosity – OECD 114
• Stability in organic solvents:
• Hydrolysis as a function of pH
• Conductivity
• Redox potential
• Corrosion studies – ASTM G31, D1384
• Viscosity (inherent and intrinsic viscosity)
• Freezing Point and Boiling Point
• Vapour Pressure
• Surface Tension
• Density and Specific Gravity
• Refractive Index
• Optical Rotation

Additional physico-chemical test measurements:

• Particle size and sieve test
• Crystallinity and Morphology
• Stability to metals and metal ions
• NIER testing of polymers
• MW determination for polymers
• Wettability
• Persistent foaming
• Flowability, Pourability, Dustability
• Bulk Resistivity
• Solubility in organic solvents
• Stability in organic solvents
• Storage stability
• Thermal stability

Intertek also provides full characterisation and identity testing. These tests can be used to provide technical data such as identity, purity, impurity profile which are important when planning testing and can be used to quantify the phys-chem tests:

• Ultraviolet and Visible Absorption Spectroscopy (UV/vis)
• Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR)
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
• Mass Spectrometry (MS)
• Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC, LCMS and LC-MS/MS detection)
• Metals Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (ICP)
• Water content by Karl-Fischer
• Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
• X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
• Elemental Microanalysis (Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulphur / CHNS)

As a provider of Total Quality Assurance we will ensure that you will be guided seamlessly through the physico-chemical property measurement testing process, via our experts and facilities located worldwide.