Physico Chemical Properties

Physico-Chemical Property Measurements

Physico-chemical testing forms a signifcant part of the data package and the Registration of chemical substances and can be vital in designing the appropriate toxicological and ecotoxicological test packages. IIRT performs physical chemistry tests according to the ISO and OECD Guidelines.

Physical Chemistry Data Package:

  • Melting Temperature/Freezing Temperature – OECD 102/EU A1
  • Boiling Temperature – OECD 103/EU A2
  • Relative Density – OECD 109/EU A3
  • Vapour Pressure – OECD 104/EU A4
  • Surface Tension – OECD 115/EU A5
  • Water Solubility – OECD 105/EU A6
  • Partition Coefficient (HPLC) – OECD 107/EU A8
  • Partition Coefficient (Shake Flask) – OECD 107/EU A8
  • Flash point (Liquid only) – EU A9
  • Flammability (Solid on ignition) – EU A10
  • Flammability (Gases) – EU A11
  • Flammability (Contact with Water) – EU A12
  • Pyrophoric Properties of Solids and Liquids – EU A13
  • Explosive Properties (Liquid) – EU A14
  • Explosive Properties (Solid) – EU A14
  • Auto-ignition Temperature (Liquid) – EU A15
  • Relative Self-ignition Temperature (Solid) – EU A16
  • Oxidising Properties (Solid) – EU A17
  • Oxidising Properties (Liquid) – EU A21

Physico-chemical measurements on aqueous solutions:

  • pH
  • Dissociation Constant – OECD 112
  • logD (octanol: water distribution coefficient)
  • Viscosity – OECD 114
  • Stability in organic solvents:
  • Hydrolysis as a function of pH
  • Conductivity
  • Redox potential
  • Corrosion studies

Physico-chemical measurements on fluids and liquids: 

  • Viscosity (inherent and intrinsic viscosity)
  • Freezing Point and Boiling Point
  • Vapour Pressure
  • Surface Tension
  • Density and Specific Gravity
  • Refractive Index
  • Optical Rotation

Additional physico-chemical test measurements:

  • Crystallinity and Morphology
  • Stability to metals and metal ions
  • NIER testing of polymers
  • MW determination for polymers
  • Wettability
  • Persistent foaming
  • Flowability, Pourability, Dustability
  • Bulk Resitivity
  • Solubility in organic solvents
  • Stability in organic solvents
  • Storage stability
  • Thermal stability

Intertek also provides full characterisation and identity testing. These tests can be used to provide technical data such as identity, purity, impurity profile which are important when planning testing and can be used to quantify the phys-chem tests:

  • Ultraviolet and Visible Absorption Spectroscopy (UV/vis)
  • Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR)
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
  • Mass Spectrometry (MS)
  • Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC with MS detection)
  • Metals Analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (ICP)
  • Water content by Karl-Fischer
  • Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
  • X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
  • Elemental Microanalysis (Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulphur / CHNS)