Extraction Agent
Standardized extraction solvents simulate the migration behaviour of lipophilic substances into polymer coatings under specific temperature thresholds. Laboratories use an iso-octane stimulant to evaluate the potential release of plasticizers or finishing oils from synthetic fabrics. This volatile hydrocarbon replicates the action of fatty substances without causing the swelling or dissolution that occurs with polar solvents.
Migration Behaviour
Testing involves submerging the fabric specimen in the solvent for a defined duration. Solutes migrate from the fibers into the liquid phase, following diffusion kinetics that depend on the temperature of the system. This method produces a concentrated extract that holds the migrated chemical residues, which are then analyzed using chromatographic systems.
Testing Process
The extracted solvent is evaporated to dryness under a gentle nitrogen stream, and the residue is reconstituted in a precise volume of analysis-grade solvent. This step ensures that trace contaminants are concentrated to a level that falls well within the calibration range of the analytical instruments. It also removes volatile matrix components that could interfere with the detector signals during chromatographic run times.
Quality Assessment
Quality control criteria require that the recovery rate of spiked reference compounds remains within established percentage boundaries. Consistent recovery confirms that the solvent has extracted the target compounds without degradation.