EN 1243:2011

Adhesives - Determination of free formaldehyde in amino and amidoformaldehyde condensates

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the free formaldehyde content in amino and amido-formaldehyde condensate adhesives.

Klebstoffe - Bestimmung des freien Formaldehydgehaltes in Amino- und Amido-Formaldehyd-Kondensaten

Diese Europäische Norm legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung des freien Formaldehydgehaltes in Amino- und Amido-Formaldehyd-Kondensaten von Klebstoffen fest.

Adhésifs - Détermination du formaldéhyde libre dans les condensats de formaldéhyde amino et amido

La présente Norme européenne spécifie une méthode de détermination de la teneur en formaldéhyde libre des adhésifs de condensats de formaldéhyde amino et amido.

Lepila - Določevanje prostega formaldehida v amino- in amidoformaldehidnih kondenzatih

Ta evropski standard opredeljuje metodo določevanja vsebnosti prostega formaldehida v amino- in amidoformaldehidnih kondenzatnih lepilih.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 19-Apr-2011
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Oct-2011
• ICS: 83.180 - Adhesives
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 193 - Adhesives
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 193/WG 1 - General terminology - General physical and chemical tests
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 12-Jul-2023
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 1243:2011 - Adhesives - Determination of free formaldehyde in amino and amidoformaldehyde condensates

Relations

• Replaces: EN 1243:1998 - Adhesives - Determination of free formaldehyde in amino and amidoformaldehyde condensates
• Effective Date: 13-Jun-2009

Overview

EN 1243:2011, published by CEN, specifies a laboratory method for the determination of free formaldehyde in amino- and amido-formaldehyde condensate adhesives. The method is designed for routine quality control and regulatory assessment of adhesive products where accurate measurement of unreacted formaldehyde is required. The standard supersedes EN 1243:1998 and emphasizes consistent sampling, controlled reaction conditions and clear reporting.

Key Topics

• Scope and purpose: Measurement of free formaldehyde percentage (m/m) in amino and amido-formaldehyde condensate adhesives.
• Principle: Free formaldehyde reacts with sodium sulphite in a buffered acidic-sulphite medium to form an addition product. The unreacted acid is back-titrated by alkaline titration (sodium hydroxide) to determine the amount of formaldehyde consumed.
• Reagents and materials: Standard reagents listed include hydrochloric acid (0.5 M and 0.1 M in sodium sulphite), sodium sulphite 1 M, sodium hydroxide 0.1 M, dimethylsulphoxide 50 % v/v (or alternative solvents with verification), thymolphthalein indicator, and grade 3 water.
• Apparatus: Class A volumetric glassware, analytical balance (±0.1 g), 300 ml conical flask, ice bath and standard titration equipment.
• Conditions: Reaction temperature near 0 °C and controlled timing are required to avoid side reactions. A blank test is performed alongside the sample.

Applications

This method offers practical value for manufacturers, testing laboratories and regulatory bodies:

• Quality control: Routine batch testing to monitor free formaldehyde levels and ensure product consistency.
• Regulatory compliance: Supporting documentation for conformity with chemical safety and emissions requirements where limits on formaldehyde apply.
• Product safety and formulation development: Identifying residual formaldehyde in formulated adhesives (including neutralization steps for filled or catalyzed formulations).

Practical notes from the standard: disperse solid adhesives at 50 % m/m in water and analyse promptly; neutralize formulated dispersions to pH 7 before analysis; perform titration quickly after addition of reagent and use a blank to validate sensitivity.

Related Standards

• EN 923:2005+A1:2008 - Adhesives: terms and definitions
• EN 1067 - Examination and preparation of adhesive samples
• EN ISO 15605 - Sampling of adhesives
• EN ISO 3696 and EN ISO 1042/ISO 385/ISO 648 - Laboratory water and volumetric glassware specifications

Reporting: Test reports shall reference EN 1243, identify the adhesive tested, provide the free formaldehyde result per Clause 9, note any procedural modifications, and include the test date.

Keywords: EN 1243, free formaldehyde, amino-formaldehyde, amido-formaldehyde, adhesives, titration, sodium sulphite, quality control, CEN.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.OGHKLGQLKNRQGHQ]DWLKKlebstoffe - Bestimmung des freien Formaldehydgehaltes in Amino- und Amido-Formaldehyd-KondensatenAdhésifs - Détermination du formaldéhyde libre dans les condensats de formaldéhyde amino et amidoAdhesives - Determination of free formaldehyde in amino and amidoformaldehyde condensates83.180LepilaAdhesivesICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 1243:2011SIST EN 1243:2011en,fr,de01-julij-2011SIST EN 1243:2011SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 1243:20001DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 1243
April 2011 ICS 83.180 Supersedes EN 1243:1998English Version
Adhesives - Determination of free formaldehyde in amino and amidoformaldehyde condensates
Adhésifs - Détermination du formaldéhyde libre dans les condensats de formaldéhyde amino et amido
Klebstoffe - Bestimmung des freien Formaldehydgehaltes in Amino- und Amido-Formaldehyd-Kondensaten This European Standard was approved by CEN on 10 March 2011.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
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