Boiling point

The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid changes into a gas under a given atmospheric pressure.
This fundamental parameter characterizes the volatility, purity, and thermal stability of a liquid. It is commonly used in the quality control of solvents, plant extracts, essential oils, active ingredients, and chemicals .

Analysis of boiling point makes it possible to identify distillation points , detect any volatile impurities and ensure regulatory compliance of products intended for cosmetic, food or industrial formulation.

Principle and method of analysis

Boiling point measurement is carried out using two main methods:

• Classical method : observation of the temperature at which the liquid reaches a visible boiling point under standard atmospheric pressure (1013 hPa).
• Distillation : progressive separation of volatile components according to their boiling point, used for complex mixtures or technical solutions .

These analyses can be performed under partial vacuum or controlled pressure to assess the volatility of heat-sensitive substances.
They are particularly suited to the following matrices:

• organic solvents,
• Essential oils and plant extracts,
• food additives,
• liquid polymers and resins,
• chemical products and technical formulations.

For further information, see also:

• Flash point analysis to determine the flammability temperature,
• analysis (TGA) to monitor mass loss as a function of temperature,
• and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to study thermal transitions associated with boiling and melting.

Industrial applications

Boiling point analysis is essential in several sectors of activity:

• Food and nutraceuticals : control of liquid extracts, flavorings and solvents used in the production of natural ingredients and food supplements.
• Cosmetics : evaluation of solvents, oils or esters used in the composition of perfumes, lotions and volatile formulations.
• Materials and polymer chemistry : characterization of solvents, plasticizers and formulation agents to ensure heat stability.
• Environment and safety : determination of volatility properties for the classification of substances according to CLP (Classification, Labelling, Packaging) regulations.
• Packaging and technical products : verification of the thermal stability of solvents used in inks, varnishes or adhesives.

This measure helps to optimize formulation processes , prevent thermal risks and ensure the conformity of finished products .

Analytical interest and complementarity

Boiling point measurement is often part of a set of thermal and physicochemical analyses aimed at evaluating a product's behavior under heat:

• Melting point to characterize the solid/liquid transition,
• No problem measuring low-temperature stability
• Pour point for determining the maximum operating temperature,
• Melt flow index (MFI) for molten polymers,
• and study of thermal stability to monitor thermal degradation.

This additional data provides a comprehensive view of the thermal behavior, purity and performance of raw materials and formulations .

YesWeLab Services

YesWeLab collaborates with a network of partner laboratories accredited to ISO 17025 and/or COFRAC , specializing in thermal and physicochemical analyses .
Our experts will assist you in choosing the method best suited to your matrix (distillation, direct method, vacuum analysis).

Thanks to the YesWeLab digital platform , manufacturers can order analyses, track samples, and access reports with complete transparency.
Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting the cosmetics, food processing, chemical, and environmental sectors in quality control and thermal safety of their products.

For any specific request or quote , contact our scientific team today.