Complete Process for Halogen Testing of Connector Plastics
Date：2026-10-16 09:58:53 Classification
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Complete Process for Halogen-Free Testing of Connector Plastics
Connector plastics are classified as homogeneous materials and must be tested individually; they cannot be combined with metal terminals for testing. Common standards include EN 14582 and IEC 62321-3-2, with compliance criteria based on IEC 61249-2-21.
Limits: Cl ≤ 900 ppm, Br ≤ 900 ppm, and Cl + Br ≤ 1500 ppm. Testing for Fluorine (F) and Iodine (I) can be performed upon request.
I. Preparation Phase (Client Submission)
1. Separation of Homogeneous Materials (Crucial Step for Connector Plastics)
Different plastic components within a connector must be separated:
- Housing plastics (e.g., LCP, PBT, PA66, PC; separate by grade and color)
- Inserts/insulator plastics
- Surface inks or coatings on plastics (must be sampled separately)
> Note: Metal terminals do not require halogen testing; only non-metallic, homogeneous plastic materials are tested.
2. Sample Preparation
Provide at least 10g of each homogeneous plastic material. Plastic pellets (resins) are preferred; if unavailable, samples may be removed from the connectors, cut into small pieces, and submitted.
3. Documentation Submission
- Testing application form
- Product model and material name (e.g., PBT, LCP, PA66)
- Bill of Materials (BOM) and product photographs
- Specified standard and limits (IEC 61249-2-21), including whether testing for F and I is required
4. Quotation and Contract: The laboratory provides a quote based on the number of homogeneous materials, confirms the turnaround time, and verifies CNAS accreditation (L8083).
II. Laboratory Testing Process (Oxygen Bomb Combustion – Ion Chromatography; the referee/arbitration method)
1. Sample Pretreatment
The plastic is cut and ground into fine particles, then dried to remove moisture. A precise amount (0.1–0.5g) of the sample is weighed and placed into a platinum sample crucible. 2. Oxygen Bomb Combustion
An absorption solution is added to the oxygen bomb, which is then sealed and pressurized with high-purity oxygen (2–3.5 MPa) before ignition. The sample burns in an oxygen-rich environment, converting organic halogens into hydrogen halide gases, which are subsequently captured by the absorption solution.
3. Cooling, Volume Adjustment, and Filtration
The oxygen bomb is allowed to cool for 30 minutes. The inner walls are rinsed to collect all the absorption solution, which is then transferred to a volumetric flask, brought to a fixed volume, and filtered through a 0.22 μm membrane.
4. Analysis via Ion Chromatography (IC)
The sample is injected into the instrument to separate and quantify the concentrations of F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, and I⁻ ions.
5. Data Calculation: The total halogen content in the plastic is calculated and compared against specified limits to determine whether the material qualifies as "halogen-free."
> Note: XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is suitable only for rapid, non-destructive preliminary screening—intended for internal pre-checks rather than formal client reporting. Official reports on halogen content must be generated using the oxygen bomb combustion combined with the IC method.
III. Turnaround Time and Reporting
- Standard: 5–7 business days; Expedited: 3 business days.
- Report Contents: Sample information, testing standards, Cl/Br/F/I content, and compliance determination (i.e., whether the sample meets "halogen-free" criteria). The report is provided in English and carries CNAS accreditation (Dezewei Testing CNAS Registration No.: L8083), making it suitable for direct submission to overseas clients.
IV. Report Validity
The report remains valid indefinitely, provided that the plastic raw material grade, formulation, and supplier remain unchanged. However, brand-name clients typically require reports to be no older than one year.
> Any change to the formulation necessitates re-testing.
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