Rubber, Plastic and Polymers

This application note outlines a robust analytical approach for CHNS determination in highly fluorinated samples using the EMA 502 elemental analyzer. An extensive systematic study—alternating the analysis of fluorine-containing samples with a Sulphanilic Acid standard—was conducted to evaluate the potential impact of fluorine on elemental detection and instrument performance.

Soxhlet extraction is a common technique for extracting compounds like oils and resins from rubber using solvents like hexane, toluene, or acetone. This method, detailed in ISO 1407:2012, ensures efficient extraction by continuously cycling the solvent through the sample. In this study, the Soxhlet method is compared with the Randall method used in the VELP SER 158, evaluating efficiency, reproducibility, and accuracy for rubber analysis.