EN ISO 6401:2022

Plastics - Poly(vinyl chloride) - Determination of residual vinyl chloride monomer using gas-chromatographic method (ISO 6401:2022)

This document specifies a method for the determination of vinyl chloride monomer in homopolymer and copolymer resins of vinyl chloride and compounded materials. The method is based on sample dissolution and headspace gas chromatography. Concentrations of vinyl chloride in the range 0,1 mg/kg to 3,0 mg/kg can be determined.

Kunststoffe - Polyvinylchlorid - Bestimmung des Restgehaltes an Vinylchlorid-Monomer - Gaschromatographisches Verfahren (ISO 6401:2022)

Dieses Dokument legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Vinylchlorid-Monomers in Vinylchlorid-Homopolymeren und -Copolymeren sowie Compound-Werkstoffen fest. Das Verfahren beruht auf dem Lösen der Probe und Headspace-Gaschromatographie. Dabei können Vinylchlorid-Konzentrationen im Bereich von 0,1 mg/kg bis 3,0 mg/kg bestimmt werden.
SICHERHEITSANWEISUNG — Anwender dieses Dokuments sollten mit der üblichen Laborpraxis vertraut sein. Dieses Dokument beabsichtigt nicht die Anführung aller eventuell auftretenden Sicherheitsprobleme beim Gebrauch. Es liegt in der Verantwortung des Anwenders, geeignete Sicherheits- und Gesundheitsschutzmaßnahmen zu treffen und die Anwendbarkeit mit den nationalen Vorschriften zu bestimmen.

Plastiques - Poly(chlorure de vinyle) - Détermination du chlorure de vinyle monomère résiduel par la méthode de chromatographie en phase gazeuse (ISO 6401:2022)

Le présent document spécifie une méthode de détermination de la teneur en chlorure de vinyle monomère dans les résines d’homopolymères et de copolymères de chlorure de vinyle et matériaux composés. Cette méthode repose sur la dissolution de l’échantillon et sur la chromatographie en phase gazeuse à espace de tête. La concentration en chlorure de vinyle peut être déterminée dans la plage de 0,1 mg/kg à 3,0 mg/kg.

Polimerni materiali - Polivinilklorid - Določevanje preostanka vinilklorida s plinsko kromatografsko metodo (ISO 6401:2022)

ISO 6401:2008 določa metodo za določevanje monomera vinilklorida v homopolimernih in kopolimernih smolah vinilklorida in mešanih materialih. Metoda temelji na raztapljanju vzorca in plinski kromatografiji v prostoru. Določiti je mogoče koncentracije vinil klorida od 0,1 mg/kg do 3,0 mg/kg.
»Suha metoda«, ki je primerna za PVC-smole, ne pa za mešane materiale, se pogosto uporablja v industriji za interno uporabo. V pripravi je ločen mednarodni standard, ki temelji na tej metodologiji.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Dec-2022
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 21-Dec-2022
• Completion Date: 21-Dec-2022
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 6401:2023 - Plastics - Poly(vinyl chloride) - Determination of residual vinyl chloride monomer using gas-chromatographic method (ISO 6401:2022)

Relations

• Replaces: EN ISO 6401:2008 - Plastics - Poly(vinyl chloride) - Determination of residual vinyl chloride monomer - Gas-chromatographic method (ISO 6401:2008)
• Effective Date: 20-Oct-2021

Overview

EN ISO 6401:2022 - Plastics - Poly(vinyl chloride) - Determination of residual vinyl chloride monomer using gas‑chromatographic method - defines a standardized laboratory procedure to measure residual vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in PVC homopolymers, copolymers and compounded materials. The method uses sample dissolution (or swelling) in N,N'‑dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and headspace gas chromatography (HS‑GC) to quantify VCM in the range 0.1 mg/kg to 3.0 mg/kg. The document supersedes the 2008 edition and was adopted by CEN as EN ISO 6401:2022.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Principle: quantification of VCM by headspace sampling of polymer dissolved or swollen in DMAc followed by GC analysis.
• Scope: applicable to homopolymers, copolymers of vinyl chloride and compounded PVC materials.
• Detection limits and range: method limits permit determination from 0.1 mg/kg up to 3.0 mg/kg VCM.
• Apparatus and reagents: automatic static headspace sampler, suitable GC column and detector, high‑purity gases, gastight syringes, and glass vials with PTFE‑lined septa. DMAc is specified as the solvent (standard provides density reference).
• Standards for calibration: preparation of primary and working vinyl chloride calibrants, storage conditions (cool storage recommended) and construction of a calibration graph for quantification.
• Sampling and sample handling: advice to cool samples before sampling (to reduce monomer loss), avoid humidity condensation, seal samples in completely filled glass bottles/vials, and process quickly to minimize VCM volatility.
• Safety: explicit warnings that vinyl chloride and DMAc are hazardous - work must be conducted in well‑ventilated fume hoods with appropriate lab safety practices.
• Annexes: includes guidance on suitable GC columns and typical calibration responses; test report content and method precision are also specified.

Applications and practical value

• Routine quality control testing in PVC production and compounding to ensure residual VCM meets safety and regulatory limits.
• Material certification for suppliers and purchasers of PVC resins and compounded products.
• Regulatory compliance and risk assessment related to worker and consumer exposure to vinyl chloride.
• For method validation, inter‑laboratory comparisons and establishing supplier specifications.

Who should use this standard

• Analytical and industrial laboratories performing polymer testing
• PVC resin manufacturers and compounders
• Product conformity and regulatory compliance teams
• Third‑party testing services and certification bodies

Related standards

• ISO 472 (Plastics - Vocabulary) - referenced for terminology
• EN ISO 6401:2008 - previous edition superseded by this 2022 version

Keywords: EN ISO 6401:2022, vinyl chloride monomer, VCM, PVC testing, headspace gas chromatography, DMAc, residual monomer analysis, PVC quality control.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2023
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 6401:2009
Polimerni materiali - Polivinilklorid - Določevanje preostanka vinilklorida s plinsko
kromatografsko metodo (ISO 6401:2022)
Plastics - Poly(vinyl chloride) - Determination of residual vinyl chloride monomer using
gas-chromatographic method (ISO 6401:2022)
Kunststoffe – Polyvinylchlorid – Bestimmung des Restgehaltes an Vinylchlorid-Monomer
– Gaschromatographisches Verfahren (ISO 6401:2022)
Plastiques - Poly(chlorure de vinyle) - Détermination du chlorure de vinyle monomère
résiduel par la méthode de chromatographie en phase gazeuse (ISO 6401:2022)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 6401:2022
ICS:
83.080.20 Plastomeri Thermoplastic materials
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 6401
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 83.080.20 Supersedes EN ISO 6401:2008
English Version
Plastics - Poly(vinyl chloride) - Determination of residual
vinyl chloride monomer using gas-chromatographic
method (ISO 6401:2022)
Plastiques - Poly(chlorure de vinyle) - Détermination Kunststoffe - Polyvinylchlorid - Bestimmung des
du chlorure de vinyle monomère résiduel par la Restgehaltes an Vinylchlorid-Monomer -
méthode de chromatographie en phase gazeuse (ISO Gaschromatographisches Verfahren (ISO 6401:2022)
6401:2022)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 6 December 2022.

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, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 6401:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 6401:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61 "Plastics" in
collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics” the secretariat of which is held by NBN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2023, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2023.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 6401:2008.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 6401:2022 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 6401:2022 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 6401
Third edition
2022-12
Plastics — Poly(vinyl chloride) —
Determination of residual vinyl
chloride monomer using gas-
chromatographic method
Reference number
ISO 6401:2022(E)
ISO 6401:2022(E)
© ISO 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 6401:2022(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Sampling . 1
6 Apparatus . 1
7 Reagents and materials . 2
8 Procedure .3
8.1 Preparation of test solutions . . 3
8.2 Gas chromatography . 3
8.3 Determination . 3
8.4 Preparation of the calibration graph . 4
9 Calculation . 4
10 Precision . 4
11 Test report . 4
Annex A (informative) Suitable GC columns for the determination of vinyl chloride
monomer . 6
Annex B (informative) Typical responses for vinyl chloride monomer calibration solutions.7
Bibliography . 8
iii
ISO 6401:2022(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 5, Physical-
chemical
...