Quality Control Lab Upgrades Equipment

Batch release testing determines whether a plasticizer shipment is accepted. Most disputes in this industry stem from a few key measurements: identity, ester content, acid value, color, volatile loss, and— for epoxidized grades—epoxy oxygen. Upgrading the lab is not just a cosmetic improvement; it directly impacts how quickly batches can be released, how confidently COAs are issued, and how much testing must be outsourced.

What's new in our lab

The quality control lab has completed an equipment upgrade across three areas:

• Chromatographic identity and purity tests, enabling verification of incoming solvent and finished ester batches against the reference chromatogram rather than relying solely on supplier data.
• Titrimetric determination of acid value and epoxy oxygen content, which shortens turnaround time for the two parameters most frequently disputed in flexible PVC compounding.
• Color and volatile loss measurement under controlled conditions, so the figures on the COA are from our internal bench testing rather than periodic external testing.

The upgrade focuses on analytical capabilities. It does not alter product specifications or convert any existing statement into a certification that was not previously held.

How this affects buyers

1. Batch COA values for acid value, color, and volatile loss are generated from our own measurements of the shipped lot.
2. Retained samples are kept for a defined period to enable claims verification against the corresponding delivery sample.
3. Turnaround time from lot completion to document release is shortened, benefiting buyers with low inventory.
4. For parameters still requiring external laboratory testing—such as heavy metals, migration, or electrical properties—the report is issued by the respective laboratory and clearly attributed.

What the COA Covers and Does Not Cover

A batch COA covers the properties listed on it, measured by the stated method. It is not a certificate of compliance for the finished article and does not replace a REACH SVHC screening statement, food-contact declaration, or migration test. Buyers needing these documents should request them explicitly and expect them to be issued for the specific grade supplied, not the entire product family.

Sampling and Retention Policy

• A sample is drawn from the finished lot after homogenization, not during transfer on the filling line.
• Retained samples are stored under the same conditions as the product and are available for re-testing within the retention period.
• If a customer's report conflicts with our COA, first compare it against the retained sample using the same method before either result is considered definitive.

FAQ

Does the lab upgrade mean products are now certified?

No. The upgrade expands in-house analytical capabilities for identity, acid value, epoxy oxygen, color, and volatile loss. Certification claims are limited to what is actually held and issued.

Are all COA parameters tested in-house?

The parameters listed above are measured in-house on the shipped lot. Specialized tests, such as migration, heavy metals, and electrical properties, are performed by external laboratories and attributed accordingly.

Can I request the retained sample for verification?

If a dispute arises for a delivered lot, the retained sample for that lot may be tested using the same method. Requests must include the batch number from the COA.

How fast can documents be issued with a shipment?

For standard grades, the COA is issued with lot release. Special declarations, such as SVHC statements, follow the request workflow and are issued for the supplied grade.