ISO/TC 61/SC 9/WG 14 - Polymer dispersions

This document specifies two methods for the determination of free formaldehyde (HCHO) in polymer dispersions. This document is applicable to acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, carboxylated styrene-butadiene and vinyl acetate polymer dispersions. It is also applicable to polymer dispersions of other compositions. Method A (UV/Vis spectrometer method) is applicable to polymer dispersions with a free-formaldehyde content higher than 10 mg/kg. Method B (HPLC method) is applicable for determining lower formaldehyde contents or carrying out arbitration analyses.

This document specifies a method for the determination of residual monomers and other (saturated) organic components in aqueous polymer dispersions and latices as well as in related products. It makes use of capillary-column gas chromatography with direct injection of the liquid sample. Residual monomers and saturated volatiles that have been successfully determined by this method include acrylic and methacrylic esters, acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride as well as by-products such as acetaldehyde and ethylbenzene.