The Certification of the Mass Fractions of As , Br , Cd , Cr , Hg , Pb , S , Sb , Sn and Zn in Low - Density Polyethylene : ERM ® - EC 680 m

This report describes the production of ERM-EC680m, a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) material certified for the mass fraction of elements. The material was produced following ISO Guide 34:2009. An LDPE material containing certain elements was prepared from commercially sourced low-density polyethylene and organic and inorganic pigments. The material was extruded, mixed and filled into bottles. Between-bottle homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed following with ISO Guide 35:2006. The withinunit homogeneity was quantified to determine the minimum sample intake. The material was characterised by an intercomparison among laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025. Technically invalid results were removed but no outlier was eliminated on statistical grounds only. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity, instability and characterisation. The material is intended for the quality control and/or assessment of method performance. As any reference material, it can also be used for control charts, validation studies or calibration of methods. The CRM is available in glass bottles containing 100 g of polyethylene granulate. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 150 mg for the determination of Cl and 50 mg for the determination of all other elements. The CRM was accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium. CERTIFICATION REPORT The Certification of the Mass Fractions of As, Br, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, S, Sb, Sn and Zn in Low-Density Polyethylene: ERM®-EC680m Raquel Sanchez Romero, Thomas P.J. Linsinger European Commission, Joint Research Centre Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) Geel, Belgium