< Previous2020 bmta.co.uk In-house tests It is often cost effective to implement in-house emissions screening tests for quality control. The tests ensure batch- to-batch product quality and can be useful for research and development. For example, screening can be used to compare product types, compare a product with a competitor’s, assess the effect of manufacturing processes and for troubleshooting, such as determining the cause of failure of a product. The ‘reference’ tests described earlier are the best available approach for simulating real-world use of products. However, the length of time needed for these tests (3 to 28 days in Europe and 10–14 days in the USA) and the stringent conditions that need to be maintained (23°C and 50% relative humidity) make these tests expensive, time-consuming and impractical for routine quality control. Consequently, there is a demand for quicker and simpler sampling methods. Direct desorption is one option. Small pieces of a material are placed into an empty TD sample tube (Figure 2). The tube is placed directly into a TD unit for desorption and analysis. The method is simple and readily automated. However, it is only applicable to small, relatively homogeneous samples, and results may not correlate well with data from ‘reference’ emission tests because VOCs are typically extracted from the whole sample, often at increased temperatures and the results cannot be correlated with the real use of the product or material. A microchamber, such as the Micro-Chamber/Thermal Extractor (µ-CTE) from Markes International (Figure 3), overcomes the drawbacks of both ‘small’ chambers and direct desorption. Microchambers are based on the same fundamental principles as ‘small’ chambers, but in scaled- down form, meaning that equilibration and sampling can be carried out much more quickly. The samples can be substantially larger than for direct desorption, which results in improved reproducibility for composite samples. The operation of these microchambers is simple. When the unit has reached the set temperature, the microchambers containing the samples are placed within it, and the lids sealed. A controlled flow of air or gas (optionally humidified) is passed through all chambers simultaneously. After equilibration (typically for 20–30 minutes), conditioned sorbent tubes are attached to each microchamber, and the air/gas flow sweeps vapours from the material and onto the sorbent tube. No pumps or additional mass flow control equipment is required, making the system easy to use and ideal for routine operation. Microchamber tests can be carried out at ambient or elevated temperature. For testing emissions from construction materials or products, moderate temperatures (30–60°C) are used to boost sensitivity and compensate for the relatively small sample size without affecting correlation with ambient-temperature data from ‘small’ chambers. Typical equilibration times for sampling VOCs range from 20–30 min, with subsequent vapour sampling for 15–20 min at 50 mL/min. These conditions allow four or six samples (depending on the model) to be processed every hour. Optional toggle valves allow the gas flow to unused chambers to be turned off, reducing gas consumption, and a humidifier accessory can supply the unit with 50% humidified air. This allows closer simulation of conditions used in ‘reference’ tests and can enhance the recovery of some less volatile polar compounds. The µ-CTE can also be operated at higher temperatures and flow rates for extended periods. Figure 4: The microchambers inside a four-chamber µ-CTE.bmta.co.uk After vapour sampling, the sorbent tubes are analysed by TD–GC–MS. The analytical process is carried out off-line, allowing a fresh set of samples to be introduced to the µ-CTE while analysis of the previous set continues. The µ-CTE is available in two models, both of which allow multiple samples to be tested simultaneously. The four-chamber model (Figure 4) has a maximum temperature of 250°C and a chamber volume of 114 cm and the six-chamber model has a maximum temperature of 120°C and a chamber volume of 44cm. Both offer three modes of operation: • Bulk emissions testing is valuable for emissions profiling, and for testing of raw materials (Figure 5A). • Surface emissions testing is suitable for determining area-specific emission rates from planar samples (Figure 5B). • Permeation testing uses a dedicated accessory to allow volatiles permeating through a thin layer of material to be measured (Figure 5C). The µ-CTE is required for compliance with several standard methods, including ISO 16000-25 (building products), ASTM D7706 (products), ASTM WK40293 (spray polyurethane foam), the GUT Emission Test (carpets), and VDI 2083-17 (cleanrooms). It is also cited as a secondary screening method in EN 16402 (paints and varnishes) and EN 16516 (construction products). Emissions data obtained using the µ-CTE has been proven to show indicative correlation to the results from ‘reference’ methods. In addition, the fast emissions- screening data obtained using the µ-CTE has been found to allow reliable estimation of longer-term results from ‘small’ chamber tests, enabling demonstration of continued compliance with certification requirements. Conclusions As well as third-party certification of products, market demand for new low-emission (higher-value) products and the need for raw material checks and factory production control of product emissions means that many companies will benefit from in-house emission- testing capability. Microchamber technology and robust TD–GC–MS systems have a key role to play in making chemical emissions testing a practical and useful in-house test facility for construction product manufacturers. Markes’ µ-CTE is a valuable tool for assessing VOC emissions from a wide range of construction materials and consumer products. Key benefits are reproducibility and speed of sampling – up to six samples can be processed in parallel in less than 60 minutes, enabling reliable comparison between samples and offering significant benefits for sample throughput. Another major advantage of the µ-CTE is that the results obtained can be used to predict emissions from the expensive long-term certification tests required by national and global regulations, reducing costs and saving time in the process of optimising formulations. This article was written by Elinor Hughes, technical copywriter at Markes International, Gwaun Elai Medi- Science Campus, Llantrisant, UK. For more information, visit www.markes.com. Figure 5: Operation of the µ-CTE for sampling emissions of volatile chemicals (A) from bulk samples, (B) from the surfaces of flat samples and (C) permeating through a thin layer of material. 21bmta.co.uk WHY IS THE MEASUREMENT INFRASTRUCTURE VITAL IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FROM COVID-19? by Dr Richard Brown, Head of Metrology, NPL Every day we use products and services which are enabled by measurement science, because we have trust in the standards supporting them. This confidence does not happen by accident but is the result of a well-established infra-technology – our measurement infrastructure, which is based on a globally agreed system that is implemented locally. Metrology, the science of measurement, oversees the maintenance and improvement of the measurement infrastructure, continually responding to evolving societal needs. NPL, as the UK’s National Metrology Institute, is responsible for the measurement standards and is one of the six laboratories who make up the UK National Measurement System (NMS). The NMS is responsible for stimulating good measurement practice and enables UK businesses to make accurate and traceable measurements, for the benefit of the nation. The system provides the underpinning measurement infrastructure and technologies that are essential for enabling science, innovation, research and development. Critical support Our reliance on the NMS is often overlooked, but like many of our infrastructures, such as road and water networks, it would be noticed if it did not work. The fact that it is invisible to many is indicative of its success, but our economy, our quality of life and often our very lives depend on the robust and reliable measurements it enables. This measurement infrastructure provides critical support to business, from calibration laboratories and instrument manufacturers, to measurements in use on a production line or in delivering a service. The measurement infrastructure is vital to the UK economy, for example due to its role in maintaining standards which enable global trade and manufacturing by ensuring consistency and recognition of measurement units and standards throughout the world. As a result, measurement science has a key role to play in accelerating the economic recovery from COVID-19, including in emerging sectors such as the digital economy. Measurement needs do not stand still. Increasing the productivity of UK industry is essential in sustaining and improving prosperity for our nation, and measurement plays a fundamental role in optimising and improving industrial processes. The rise of new markets, innovations in industrial processes, disruptive technologies, and societal challenges in health, security and the environment all drive the need for new or innovative measurement techniques and standards. Measurement helps to improve the efficiency of businesses by reducing waste, increasing productivity and improving value for money. Around 75% of all errors that occur in production are pre-determined in the earliest phases of manufacturing. However, 80% of these errors are not detected until either the manufacturing process or after sale. Advanced metrology allows manufacturers to reduce their scrappage rates by creating tighter production processes with better control of parameters that influence the quality of a final product. Productivity To maximise productivity, the outputs of R&D need to be commercialised and brought to market as quickly as possible. A key driver in accelerating this process is giving potential customers or regulators confidence that a new technology works as well as its owner claims. Standards and accreditation are delivered through established methods for testing the performance of a product or process, which are rooted in measurement certainty. Increasing the adoption of better measurement will provide significant competitive advantage for the UK, as all nations now begin their recovery from COVID-19. It can help to accelerate the UK’s recovery, making up for lost time and ensure resiliency for any future or further disruption. NPL’s Measurement for Recovery (M4R) programme is providing businesses with access to world-leading experts in testing and measurement, providing them with advice or short consultancies to support their response and recovery activities, free of charge. Goals Our goal is to ensure that our measurement expertise and that of our partners drives the UK’s innovation landscape and is utilised to its utmost to support UK industry in its recovery from the COVID-19 lockdown and beyond. Underpinning science, technology, medicine, trade and industry, measurement is fundamental to the economy. Measurement plays a vital role in responding to new challenges, supporting UK innovation, and helping the drive to increase UK productivity. 222323 bmta.co.uk Whilst the measurement infrastructure supports all aspects of the physical measurement world, there are several emerging sectors which go beyond the physical and have unique technology needs. These topics include big data and the digital world, clean growth and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, artificial intelligence, industry 4.0 and future communications, personal medicine and the aging population. Implementation As a result of their data intensive and non-physical nature, these topics are not covered by the traditional measurement infrastructure, whose history evolved from the physical world of weights and measures. However, they require the stability and control that the application of measurement science brings, in order to advance rapidly. As a result, NPL has identified the need for the implementation of a new measurement infrastructure to unleash the potential of these emerging technologies and sectors which will revolutionise society and the economy. This new framework would build on the traditional measurement infrastructure to create a novel approach, not involving physical measurement standards. In the future, the measurement infrastructure will create many benefits including: providing the focus for national and global leadership in the development, validation and agreed standardisation of measurement methods, making the UK a world leading superpower in these areas with a competitive advantage over other economies Development The underpinning and flexible nature of this new measurement infrastructure would be agile and universal, able to apply its principles to support, at short notice, new demands on the economy and UK government, providing resilience to cope with any future national requirements or crises. This would future proof the UK measurement infrastructure to flexibly develop and support yet-to-be- conceived technologies. The system will enable faster, more productive and efficient transfer of science into innovation to disseminate best practice for data assessment, interpretation, curation and reuse. It will form a new national infra-technology that supports technologies and challenges equally. It will also place innovation at the heart of economic recovery and future growth and accelerate progress towards the government’s 2.4% R&D target. Lastly, a digital infrastructure will provide equal support across the regions and nations of the UK, supporting the levelling up agenda, as well as a progressive approach that ensures the UK attracts and retains a highly skilled, diverse workforce. COMPANY PROFILE 3M bmta.co.uk 3M History More than a century ago, 3M started as a small-scale mining venture in Northern Minnesota, then named Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Now a global powerhouse, our products improve the daily lives of people around the world. When 3M began in 1902, our five founders had a simple goal: to mine for corundum, a mineral ideal for making sandpaper and grinding wheels. Turns out, what they thought was corundum was really another low-grade mineral called anorthosite. Discovering the poor-quality mineral could have caused an early end to our fledgling company, but our founders persisted. Why? Because something more important was born that first year: the spirit of innovation and collaboration that forms the foundation of 3M today. So instead of calling it quits, we turned to different materials, applied them to other products, gained the trust of important investors and built up sales little by little. Scientific, technical and marketing innovations produced success upon success over the years, eventually making 3M a constant name on the Fortune 500 list. Today, more than 60,000 3M products are used in homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and other industries. One third of our sales come from products invented within the past five years, thanks to innovations from the thousands of researchers and scientists we employ around the world. With corporate operations in 70 countries and sales in 200, we are committed to creating the technology and products that advance every company, enhance every home and improve every life. Brands 3M and the 3M logo are considered the house brand for the company, but 3M also has several core brands for specific markets that they support. Examples of these are: • • Post-it Brand • Scotch-Brite Brand • Scotch Brand • Nexcare Brand • Filtrete Brand • Command Brand • Scotch Painter’s Tape • FUTURO Brand • ACE Brand • 3M Littmann Stethoscopes 3M is a science-based technology company that is committed to improving lives. 3M loves applying our science to creating products that make things better in some way. Helping people to be safe. Making them more productive. Protecting their health. Safeguarding the environment. And we have an appetite for meeting the world’s ever-changing challenges - one third of our revenues come from products that didn’t exist five years ago. At 3M, honesty, integrity and the ability to work as part of a team contribute to a culture that is founded on curiosity, problem-solving and collaboration. 24COMPANY PROFILE 3M bmta.co.uk 25 Science at 3M There is a strong thread that connects our four business groups to the vast amount of science we do and the thousands of scientists and researchers we have around the world — it’s our research and development. R&D is the heartbeat of 3M. We invest about 5.9 percent of our sales back into the science that makes 3M strong. That investment helps produce more than 3,500 patents each year and a steady stream of unique products for customers. The company owns 51 technology platforms, which range from adhesives and abrasives, to ceramics and nanotechnology. Our scientists around the world share and combine these technologies across all our businesses to invent and manufacture cutting-edge products. Sustainability at 3M 3M has a long-standing commitment to sustainability and it is a core value of our company. Our consistent industry leadership is evident in the establishment of our ground-breaking Pollution Prevention Pays program in 1975, which continues to thrive, as well as more recent initiatives, including our shift to renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing circular solutions and growing our skills-based volunteering programs. Together with our employees, customers, partners, governments and communities, 3M is committed to a science-based, collaborative approach to solving shared global challenges and improving lives. In this pivotal time for our planet, our strategic sustainability framework directs our efforts to areas with the biggest impact. Science for Circular - Design solutions that do more with less material, advancing a global circular economy. Science for Climate - Innovate to decarbonise industry, accelerate global climate solutions and improve our environmental footprint Science for Community - Create a more positive world through science and inspire people to join us.Contribute to the BMTA newsletter... To help us research and plan the most relevant and useful information for BMTA members we would like your help to identify and share relevant topics, research on new technologies, techniques, news, events and publications you think may be of interest or promote to your fellow BMTA member community. Send your article to: editor.bmta@abacus-comms. co.uk with a short synopsis and an image and brief biography of the author. Equally, should your business produce any information that you would like to share, please submit this to enquiries@bmta.co.uk Share this newsletter with your team... 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