Your need: realise the analysis of cyclosiloxane in your products
What are cyclosiloxanes?
Cyclosiloxanes or cyclic siloxanes belong to the family of silicone materials. They are formed by repeating units of silicone (Si) and oxygen (O) atoms in a closed loop, which gives them a cyclic structure. The three main cyclosiloxanes used in the manufacture of materials are cyclosiloxanes D4,D5,D6.
This family includes several categories of substances:
hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3);
octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4);
decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5);
dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6)
dodecamethylcycloheptasiloxane (D7).
The term “silicone” may also be used to refer to cyclosiloxanes.
Why analyse cyclosiloxanes?
Present in certain everyday products, humans are exposed to cyclosiloxanes through the skin or by inhalation. Cyclosiloxanes D4 and D7 have been classified as endocrine disruptors by the European Union. However, the risks associated with the use of cosmetic products containing siloxane D4 have not yet been proven. Concerning siloxanes d3, d5 and d6, the regulatory authorities consider them safe for consumers.
There are ecological problems with these substances. Indeed, siloxanes are suspected to be non-biodegradable in water and biological tissues, leading to toxicity for aquatic organisms.
The monitoring of the scientific advances relating to the use of siloxanes and their impact on human and environmental health is an important issue for the cosmetics industry. Thus, the support of a specialist laboratory will enable you to adapt your production to regulatory changes. And among other things, the quantification of volatile cyclic methylsiloxanes in cured and uncured silicone elastomers.
Our solutions: analyse and quantify the presence of cyclosiloxanes in your products in order to assess the risks
Our cyclosiloxane analysis services
Thanks to the know-how of its team and its state-of-the-art analytical equipment, the FILAB laboratory assists companies in the analysis of cyclosiloxanes as well as in the compliance of their products:
–Analysis and dosage of your products to identify the levels of cyclosiloxane present
–Quantification of residual amounts of volatile cyclic methylsiloxanes in silicone elastomers using the CES GC method
–Analytical development and validation of quantitative assay methods according to current ISO standards
–R&D support: product substitution, deformation, bibliographic study, etc.
Cyclosiloxanes can be analysed by gas chromatography (GC-MS), due to their volatile properties. As an organic compound, it is also possible to determine their structure by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).
