This part of IEC 62321 specifies two different techniques for the determination of tris(2‑chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) in plastics, the GC-MS or LC-MS method, both of which are applicable to quantitative analysis.

These two techniques are applicable to use with polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, and polyethylene materials containing TCEP between 200 mg/kg to 2 000 mg/kg.

These test methods do not apply to plastic materials having a processing temperature higher than 230 °C.

GC-MS using a pyrolyser/thermal desorption accessory (Py/TD-GC-MS) technique is described in Annex A and can be used for the screening of TCEP in plastics.

NOTE TCEP starts thermal decomposition at approximately 230 °C. Polymer types that have a processing temperature into shapes of plastics (e.g. pellets, moulded parts or sheets) not exceeding the decomposition temperature can contain TCEP.