Chemical Analytical Testing (CAT)

Testing for dangerous chemicals and restricted substances is an essential part of routine testing for suppliers and retailers. At SATRA we regularly test and analyse materials and components for chemical content against customer own specification and against legislative requirements, for example European REACH.

SATRA is a European Notified Body for the certification of personal protection equipment (PPE). As part of the certification process for PPE, chemical testing must be carried out to confirm whether the materials are innocuous and will not cause harm to the wearer of the PPE. This includes checking pH values on all materials, in addition to testing for chromium VI and pentachlorophenol in leathers and soluble latex proteins for latex gloves. Chemically-protective clothing, gloves and footwear must be able to withstand both penetration and permeation of chemicals in order to be considered chemical-resistant.

Our laboratories are fully equipped and can characterise materials, including rubbers, polymers, natural and synthetic textiles, and leathers, utilising a range of chemical techniques, including microwave digestion, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. And we have steady state chambers for the analysis of VOCs and formaldehyde emission.

SATRA can offer a troubleshooting service which includes the assessment of adhesive bonding failures and mould. We can also assess odour-absorbing materials to predict their performance in the final product. Finished products or materials which have discoloured or are odorous can be commercially damaging and often result in downgraded or returned goods.

We are CPSC-accredited for the assessment of children’s products to the United States Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and can assess the lead content of surface coatings, metals and polymers.

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