7.2 Hot Plate, with magnetic stirrer.
7.3 Potentiometric Titrator, or pH meter.
7.4 Combination Silver Billet Electrode.
8. Reagents and Materials
8.1 Purity of Reagents—Use reagent grade chemicals in all
tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that all reagents
conform to the specifications of the Committee on Analytical
Reagents of the American Chemical Society where such
specifications are available.
4
Other grades may be used, pro-
vided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently
high purity to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of
the determination.
8.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
to water shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined
by Type I of Specification D1193.
8.3 Concentrated Nitric Acid (HNO
3
sp gr 1.42).
8.4 Methanol.
8.5 Silver Nitrate Standard Solution (0.01 N)—Standardize
with standard hydrochloric acid, either gravimetrically or
potentiometrically, frequently enough to detect changes of
0.0005 N.
9. Sampling
9.1 Since organic isocyanates react with atmospheric
moisture, take special precautions in sampling. Usual sampling
methods, even when conducted rapidly, can cause contamina-
tion of the sample with insoluble urea. Therefore, blanket the
sample with dry air or nitrogen at all times. (Warning—
Diisocyanates are eye, skin and respiratory irritants at concen-
trations above the occupational exposure limit (TLV or PEL).
Diisocyanates can cause skin and respiratory sensitization
(asthma) in some people. Once sensitized, it is essential to limit
further exposure to diisocyanates. Use a combination of
engineering controls and personal protective equipment, in-
cluding respiratory, skin and eye protection, to prevent over-
exposure to diisocyanates. Consult the product suppliers’
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for more detailed information about
potential health effects and other specific safety and handling
instructions for the product.)
10. Test Conditions
10.1 Since isocyanates react with moisture, keep laboratory
humidity low, preferably around 50 % relative humidity. See
Section 9of this standard for guidance on how to keep
moisture out of the sample.
11. Procedure
11.1 Weigh (by difference to the nearest 0.1 g) 9 to 11 g of
sample from a sampling weighing bottle into a clean, dry
400-mL beaker (Note 3). Add 50 mL of methanol and stir. Stir
continuously while the reaction starts at which point the beaker
will become warm and crystals may form on the sides of the
beaker (Note 4). Fill the beaker half-full with water (Note 5)
and boil gently for 30 min.
NOTE 3—If the hydrolyzable chlorine content is expected to be less than
0.01 %, use 18 to 22 g of sample.
NOTE 4—Some isocyanates will not react readily, and slight warming
may be necessary to initiate reaction. Other isocyanates may react, as
indicated by warming of reactants, but may not form crystals.
NOTE 5—Add the water quickly to keep the reactants from solidifying
and to minimize the loss of HCl.
11.2 Wash the sides of the beaker with water and remove
and wash the stirring bar. Cool the beaker in an ice bath to
about 10°C and add 10 drops of HNO
3
. Titrate potentiometri-
cally with 0.01 NAgNO
3
solution using a combination silver
billet electrode. If the chloride content is greater than 0.2 %,
use 0.1 Ninstead of 0.01 NAgNO
3
solution.
12. Calculation
12.1 Calculate the hydrolyzable chlorine as weight percent
as follows:
Hydrolyzable chlorine, % 535. 45 3A3N3100/
~
1000 3W
!
53.545 3A3N/W
where:
A= AgNO
3
solution required for titration of the sample,
mL,
N= normality of the AgNO
3
solution, meq/mL,
W= sample used, g, and
3.545 = constant combining the atomic weight of chlorine
(35.45 mg/meq), the conversion from milligrams to
grams (1000), and conversion to percent (100).
13. Precision and Bias
NOTE 6—Estimate of precision below was determined using a silver-
silver chloride electrode which is no longer commercially available.
13.1 Precision—Attempts to develop a precision and bias
statement for this test method have not been successful due to
the limited number of laboratories participating in round-robin
tests. Data on precision and bias cannot be given for this
reason. Anyone wishing to participate in the development of
precision and bias data should contact the Chairman, Subcom-
mittee D20.22 (Section D20.22.01), ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor
Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.
13.2 A limited round-robin was conducted.
13.2.1 It has been estimated that duplicate results by the
same analyst shall be considered suspect if they differ by more
than 0.001 % hydrolyzable chlorine at the 0.001 to 0.2 % level.
13.2.2 It has been estimated that results reported by different
laboratories shall be considered suspect if they differ by more
than 0.003 % hydrolyzable chlorine.
13.3 Bias—There are no recognized standards by which to
estimate the bias of this test method.
14. Keywords
14.1 aromatic isocyanates; hydrolyzable chlorine; isocya-
nates; polyurethane raw materials; titration; toluene diisocya-
nate
4
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not
listed by the American Chemical Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory
Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmaceutical Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
MD.
D4663 − 20
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