Safety Standard
A European harmonized document defines the test methods for determining the release of plasticizers from childcare articles and children’s apparel containing synthetic coatings. This specific standard, EN 14372, focuses on the identification of restricted phthalates in consumer goods that children might place in their mouths. It establishes the extraction and chromatographic protocols required to demonstrate conformity with regional chemical regulations.
Compliance with these testing parameters is mandatory for apparel brands distributing coated children’s garments in European markets.
Testing Protocol
Soxhlet extraction constitutes the core laboratory procedure used to isolate the target plasticizers from the coated textile matrix. The EN 14372 protocol details the choice of solvents, the duration of the extraction cycle, and the subsequent concentration steps needed to prepare the sample for chromatography. This ensures that the plasticizers are fully recovered from the polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride layers without destroying the synthetic polymer itself.
Extraction Method
Quantitative analysis is conducted using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to measure the exact concentration of each restricted ester. The test method detects down to fractional percentage limits, ensuring that even trace contamination is logged. This high sensitivity protects manufacturers from selling products with excessive phthalate levels.
Compliance Metric
The maximum allowable concentration establishes the chemical threshold for safety validation. This threshold ensures that the cumulative plasticizer content remains below one tenth of a percent by weight of the plasticized material.
