title: Preparation of candidate reference materials for the determination of phosphorus containing flame retardants in styrene-based polymers.
abstract: Candidate reference materials (RM) for the analysis of phosphorus-based flame retardants in styrene-based polymers were prepared using a self-made mini-extruder. Due to legal requirements of the current restriction for the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, focus now is placed on phosphorus-based flame retardants instead of the brominated kind. Newly developed analytical methods for the first-mentioned substances also require RMs similar to industrial samples for validation and verification purposes. Hence, the prepared candidate RMs contained resorcinol-bis-(diphenyl phosphate), bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate), triphenyl phosphate and triphenyl phosphine oxide as phosphorus-based flame retardants. Blends of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene as well as blends of high-impact polystyrene and polyphenylene oxide were chosen as carrier polymers. Homogeneity and thermal stability of the candidate RMs were investigated. Results showed that the candidate RMs were comparable to the available industrial materials. Measurements by ICP/OES, FTIR and NMR confirmed the expected concentrations of the flame retardants and proved that analyte loss and degradation, respectively, was below the uncertainty of measurement during the extrusion process. Thus, the candidate RMs were found to be suitable for laboratory use.
authors.affiliation: Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Egerlandstrasse 1, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Urpi Bertran
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latza
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andörfer-Lang
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hügelschäffer
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pöhlein
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puchta
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Placht
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maid
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Eldik