Titration Testing Summary
The titration testing process begins with a prepared sample for testing. As mentioned, this may be a food product, a drug project, a material sample, or some other substance. A “titrant” is then introduced to the sample.
A titrant contains a chemical that is known to react with the sample substance. The specific titrant being used will vary depending on the material or substance undergoing titration testing.
A specified quantity of the titrant is added to the sample, at which point a chemical reaction can be observed. This reaction is often a color change, though other indicators may be used.
More and more titrant may be added until all of the substance has reacted. The exact quantity of titrant must be accurately recorded, since the quantity of the titrant is used to calculate the concentration of the substance being measured.
ASTM D6869 Testing Process
One important application for titration testing is determining the volume of moisture in a material, such as a rubber or plastic compound. ASTM D6869 is a standard test method designed specifically for plastics and uses the Karl Fischer reaction for coulometric and volumetric determination of moisture. The method can measure moisture content ranging from concentrations of 0.005% to 100%. The titrant used in ASTM D6869 is iodine.
ASTM D6869 is often used when assessing the processability of plastics, since moisture content can affect both processability and physical properties. For example, excess moisture can cause splay, bubbling, or other surface imperfections, whereas too little moisture can cause polymerization at high temperatures.
ASTM D6869 is equivalent to Method B of ISO 15512: Plastics — Determination of water content.
Material Testing From ACE
The analytical chemistry team at ACE Laboratories has a comprehensive and practical understanding of titration testing and other material properties testing methods for quantifying the concentration of moisture, acid, and other substances within a given compound. We can help you understand the exact composition of your product or material, the implications of substance quantities, and your options for next steps, as necessary.
ACE Laboratories can conduct testing to industry standards for the sake of regulatory compliance or develop a custom testing plan to address a specific problem or question.
To learn more about titration testing from ACE Laboratories, talk to a member of our team >