Irganox dosage

The Irganox assay quantifies the presence of phenolic antioxidants used as thermal and oxidative stabilizers in polymers, plastics, resins or industrial formulations.
Irganox is a family of additives developed by BASF , including Irganox 1010 , Irganox 1076 , Irganox 1330 , and Irganox 3114. compounds play a key role in preventing oxidative degradation of polymers during heat treatment, storage or exposure to light.

Their quantification is essential to guarantee the stability, conformity and performance of materials intended for packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or other industrial applications.

Principle and analytical methods

The assay is based on the selective extraction of additives from the material, followed by chromatographic analysis allowing the separation, identification and precise quantification of Irganox.

The most common techniques are:

HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) :

• Preferred method for complex solid matrices (films, polymers, resins).
• Allows the efficient separation of different antioxidants and their dosage in mg/kg or %.
• Detection by UV or DAD according to specific absorption spectra.

GC-MS (Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry) :

• Technique suitable for volatile Irganox or after chemical derivatization.
• Provides precise structural identification through ion fragmentation.

LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry) :

• Highly selective approach for multi-component formulations.
• Allows simultaneous detection of antioxidants, UV stabilizers and antistatic agents.

Pre-extraction (often using organic solvents such as acetonitrile or toluene) ensures optimal recovery of Irganox without altering the support polymer.

Industrial applications

The Irganox assay is a reference analysis for the packaging and polymer materials sector , but also for many other industries:

• Food and pharmaceutical packaging : control of regulated additives according to migration requirements (EU 10/2011, FDA).
• Engineering plastics (PE, PP, PET, PVC) : evaluation of the residual antioxidant level after extrusion, molding or aging.
• Cosmetics and chemical formulations : verification of the stability of matrices containing synthetic antioxidants.
• Polymer recycling : control of additive degradation and adjustment of stabilization formulations.

This analysis makes it possible to anticipate the phenomena of aging, yellowing, cracking or loss of mechanical properties of materials.

Further analyses recommended

For a complete characterization of materials, YesWeLab recommends combining the Irganox dosage with:

• Dosage of BHT (butylhydroxytoluene) : another antioxidant frequently used in polymers.
• Analysis of polymer additives : identification of stabilizers, plasticizers and anti-UV agents.
• Accelerated aging study : evaluation of thermal and photochemical degradation.
• FTIR spectroscopy : identification of functional groups and chemical alterations of the polymer.
• Thermal analysis (DSC, TGA) : measurement of thermal transitions and stability of materials.

These cross-analyses provide a complete view of the chemical and mechanical behavior of materials during their life cycle.

YesWeLab Services

YesWeLab collaborates with a network of ISO 17025 and COFRAC accredited laboratories , specialized in the analytical chemistry of materials and polymers .
Our scientific teams select the method best suited to your matrices (films, granules, injected parts, liquid formulations) and your reference standards .

Thanks to the YesWeLab digital platform , you can centralize your requests, track your samples and access your analysis reports with ease.
Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting packaging, plastics and chemical manufacturers in quality control, regulatory compliance and formulation optimization .

For any specific requests or quotes, contact our scientific team today.