Are Azo Dyes and PCP involved in the RoHS Directive?

[keung830]

Hi,
are Azo dye and PCP involved into RoHS directive? does anyone know what they are? I just know Azo dye that will be applied on textile and leather goods. will it be applied on plastic? how about PCP?
they are really bother me.
Thanks!!

[Ajit Basrur]

Originally Posted by keung830

Hi,
are Azo dye and PCP involved into RoHS directive? does anyone know what they are? I just know Azo dye that will be applied on textile and leather goods. will it be applied on plastic? how about PCP?
they are really bother me.
Thanks!!

Hi Keung830,

RoHS is an European Directive (2002 / 95 / EC) requiring parts to be within acceptance limits for 6 elements viz. Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, PBB and PBDE. You will get lot of info on this subject by doing a SEARCH through the Cove.

Similarly, there are other European Regulations for Azo Dyes (2002/61/EC) that are separately addressed.

I have attached the directive on azo dyes for your info.

[Mr Niceguy]

Hello Keung830,

Harmonised European Standards for measuring azo colorants and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in leather or textiles exist or are under development in collaboration with ISO.

CEN Technical Committee TC289 (leather) has published a technical specification from ISO as ISO/TS 17234:2003, Leather - Chemical tests - Determination of certain azo colourants in dyed leathers and EN ISO 17070:2006, Leather - Chemical tests - Determination of pentachlorophenol content.

CEN TC201 (Leather and imitation leather goods and footwear) appear to have delegated the azo colorant testing standards to TC289.

CEN TC248 (Textiles and textile products) have published EN 14362 (2 parts), Textiles - Methods for determination of certain aromatic amines derived from azo colorants. Parts 1 and 2 are without and with extraction respectively.

[keung830]

Than you very much !!! Mr Niceguy.

a little bit foolish question. Can they be applied on plastic or plastic product? for example: watch...etc It is because my company is producing watch. You know, Everytime when our product shipped to Europe, we need to attach a letter for declarating our product that is free of PCP, Azo dye and pass RoHS directive.

thanks
Michael

[Mr Niceguy]

Michael,

Sorry I tried but I could not find a good positive answer to your question if you are meaning plastic watch cases. I could be wrong but it seems to fall in the gaps between many ISO and CEN committees. The method may have to be adapted from a standard intended for synthetic leather goods. Does an indentifiable customer have a better idea ?

The respective CEN/ISO committees for Plastics are CEN TC 249 and ISO TC 61. There is nothing relevant in their published standards which number many hundreds. I suggest contacting both chairmen. They should know of all the liaisons in their sub-committees. You should find their contact details on the CEN and ISO websites and who knows they may start a new azo/PCP work item.

You may already know that the leading standards committee on watches is ISO TC114. Their only interest in the chemical content of (metal) watch cases is in the rate of migration of nickel to the skin causing an allergy - and in this work they delegate everything to the European committee CEN TC347 (methods for the analysis of allergens) BUT azo dyes and PCP are both classified as carcinogens not primarily allergens, so CEN TC347 has declared they are excluded from its work.

I looked at European toy safety standards in CEN TC52 and it is possible that there may be something useful on extraction methods in the multipart EN 71 standards on organic materials in plastics, particularly EN 71 part 10. The only problem is that the CEN mandate for EN 71 test methods is for another Directive, not the one for azo colorants.