This document specifies test methods for the determination of the chemical compatibility of packaging/ IBC made from polyethylene (PE), fluorinated polyethylene and co-extruded plastics. It covers the determination of adequate plastics compatibility against the following processes of deterioration:

—     softening due to absorption (swelling);

—     stress cracking;

—     combinations thereof.

This document is applicable to:

—     drums and jerricans made from plastics;

—     composite packaging (plastics) with inner receptacle made from plastics;

—     rigid plastics IBCs (types 31H1 and 31H2);

—     composite IBCs with rigid plastics inner receptacles (type 31HZ1);

used for the transport of liquid dangerous goods.

Proof of adequate plastics compatibility obtained using the test procedures specified in this document is only applicable to the above packaging and IBC types of the following materials and material specifications:

—     packaging and IBCs made from PE;

—     packaging and IBCs made from PE, whose internal surfaces are fluorinated; and

—     packaging and IBCs which are coextrusion blow moulded and have walls with the following multilayer structure (from inside to outside):

—    polyamide (PA), bonding agents, PE, or

—    ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), bonding agents, PE.

Note              Packaging and IBCs made from PE and packaging and IBCs made from PE with fluorinated internal surfaces, deteriorate additionally due to molecular degradation reactions with the corresponding packaged substances. For this, the chemical compatibility can also be verified by the type tests described in ISO 13274:2013, Annex B, B.2.3, using the standard liquid nitric acid (55 %) or appropriate original packaged substances. Packaging made from Coex PE/PA and Coex PE/EVOH is not resistant to polar acid molecularly degrading substances such as nitric acid, with the result that a corresponding method is not considered for this process of deterioration in this document.