ICP-OES Analysis for Silicone Rubber
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) is a precise analytical technique for detecting and quantifying trace elements in materials like silicone rubber. This report covers the use of ICP-OES to analyze silicone rubber, ensuring compliance with safety standards such as EN 71-3:2019 and California Proposition 65.
Principle of Operation: ICP-OES Analysis
ICP-OES works by ionizing the sample with plasma and measuring the emitted light at specific wavelengths. The light’s intensity indicates the concentration of elements in the sample.
Sample Preparation
Silicone rubber samples are prepared and digested with acids to dissolve the matrix. These digested samples are then analyzed using ICP-OES.
Sample Preparation
Elements typically analyzed in silicone rubber with ICP-OES include:
- Aluminum (Al)
- Antimony (Sb)
- Arsenic (As)
- Barium (Ba)
- Boron (B)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Chromium (Cr)
- Cobalt (Co)
- Copper (Cu)
- Lead (Pb)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Nickel (Ni)
- Selenium (Se)
- Strontium (Sr)
- Tin (Sn)
- Zinc (Zn)
Standards and Limits
The analysis follows standards like EN 71-3:2019 for toy safety and California Proposition 65 for consumer product safety. These standards set maximum allowable limits for various elements.
ICP-OES Analysis Example Results
Below are summarized ICP-OES results for compliance with EN 71-3:2019:
| Element Tested | Result (mg/kg) | MDL (mg/kg) | Limit (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (Al) | N.D. | 50 | 70000 |
| Antimony (Sb) | N.D. | 50 | 560 |
| Arsenic (As) | N.D. | 50 | 47 |
| Barium (Ba) | N.D. | 0.2 | 18750 |
| Boron (B) | N.D. | 0.002 | 15000 |
| Cadmium (Cd) | N.D. | 50 | 17 |
| Chromium (III) | N.D. | 5 | 460 |
| Chromium (VI) | N.D. | 9 | 0.053 |
| Cobalt (Co) | N.D. | 2 | 130 |
| Copper (Cu) | N.D. | 0.05 | 7700 |
| Lead (Pb) | N.D. | 50 | 23 |
| Manganese (Mn) | N.D. | 50 | 15000 |
| Mercury (Hg) | N.D. | 50 | 94 |
| Nickel (Ni) | N.D. | 50 | 930 |
| Selenium (Se) | N.D. | 50 | 460 |
| Strontium (Sr) | N.D. | 50 | 56000 |
| Tin (Sn) | N.D. | 50 | 180000 |
| Zinc (Zn) | N.D. | 50 | 46000 |