ISO 16869: 2008. Plastics - Assessment of the effectiveness of fungistatic compounds in plastics formulations.
Test accredited by ENAC (Spanish National Accreditation Entity).
This standard indicates a method to determine the efficacy of fungicidal compounds to protect susceptible components such as plasticizers, stabilizers, etc. in plastic preparations. The method demonstrates whether plastic products are actively protected from fungal attack. The species of fungi that should be used according to the standard are: Aspergillus brasiliensis (syn. Aspergillus niger), Chaetomium balloonsum, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium funiculosum (syn. Penicillium pinophilum) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum (syn. Trichoderma koningii). The test uses a mixture of the spores of these five species of fungi. In addition, other optional strains may be used if required by the manufacturer. The test can be applied to any object made of plastic in the form of sheets or plates up to 10 mm thick maximum, 1 to 4 cm in diameter (a minimum of 6 pieces). If the customer has the same untreated plastic material (not protected), he must also send it for use as a control (a minimum of 6 pieces). Porous materials such as plastic foams may be used in the test, provided they have the indicated shape. It is necessary that there is a minimum diffusion of the fungicide that leaves the matrix. Unlike ISO 846, the sheets are not impregnated with a suspension of fungal spores, but are covered with a layer of test agar containing fungal spores. In this way, a better distribution of the spores is achieved, and in addition a good supply of water is provided for the germination of the spores on the surface of the plastic that are normally hydrophobic. The results are reported in grades 0, 1 or 2, depending on the absence of growth (material resistant to fungal attack), poor growth (partially protected material) or evident growth with sporulation (material susceptible to fungal attack), respectively.