The standardized test method for determining if hexavalent chromium is present on metal coatings was revised and published on September 16, 2015. The boiling water extraction test has been revised and the spot test which was provided in the original IEC 62321:2008 standard has been removed because of its unreliability. IEC provides the following abstract of the standard:

IEC 62321-7-1:2015 describes a boiling water extraction procedure intended to provide a qualitative determination of the presence of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in colourless and coloured corrosion-protection coatings on metallic samples. In this procedure, when Cr(VI) in a sample is detected below the 0,10 g/cm2 LOQ (limit of quantification), the sample is considered to be negative for Cr(VI). Since Cr(VI) may not be uniformly distributed in the coating even within the same sample batch, a “grey zone” between 0,10 g/cm2 and 0,13 g/cm2 has been established as “inconclusive” to reduce inconsistent results due to unavoidable coating variations. In this case, additional testing may be necessary to confirm the presence of Cr(VI). When Cr(VI) is detected above 0,13 g/cm2, the sample is considered to be positive for the presence of Cr(VI) in the coating layer.

Contact ECD Compliance, for additional information and services to assess your environmental product compliance requirements, keep you up to date on the impact to your products and markets and to implement compliance procedures.