ISO 7012-3:2025 PDF

Overview

ISO 7012-3:2025 specifies analytical methods for the determination of in-can isothiazolinone preservatives in water-dilutable coating materials (paints and varnishes) and related products, including polymer dispersions. The standard defines required apparatus, sample preparation and extraction, and chromatographic determination using liquid chromatography with UV/VIS detection (LC-UV/DAD) and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC‑MS or LC‑MS/MS). Applicable ionization techniques include electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: Targeted at in‑can preservative analysis in water‑based coatings and polymer dispersions; the standard is part of the ISO 7012 series.
• Principle: Homogenize and extract samples with an appropriate solvent, purify by centrifugation, then identify and quantify isothiazolinones by LC‑UV or LC‑MS(/MS).
• Sample preparation & apparatus:
  • High‑speed centrifuge (e.g., 5 000–30 000 r/min noted as suitable)
  • Ultrasonic water bath (35–45 kHz)
  • Analytical balances, volumetric flasks (10–100 ml), 0.22 µm filtration membranes
• Chromatography & detection:
  • Reverse phase C18 analytical columns (HPLC/UPLC/UHPLC compatible)
  • LC‑UV/DAD method and LC‑MS or LC‑MS/MS (single or tandem quadrupole)
  • LC‑MS requires LC‑MS grade solvents
• Quality control & method performance:
  • Requirements for blanks, calibration procedures, interferences assessment and calculation
  • Precision statements including repeatability and reproducibility limits (method validation and interlaboratory testing are addressed)
• Documentation: Test report contents and annexes give example LC conditions, MRM setups, extraction mechanics and interlaboratory results.

Practical applications and users

ISO 7012-3:2025 is intended for:

• Quality control laboratories in paint, varnish and coating manufacturing verifying preservative content
• Regulatory and compliance testing where control of in‑can biocides (isothiazolinones such as MIT/MBC etc.) is required
• R&D teams developing water‑dilutable coatings and polymer dispersions to optimize preservative performance and stability
• Third‑party testing labs performing routine or contract analyses using HPLC/UPLC with UV and MS detection

Practical benefits include standardized extraction and chromatographic procedures, harmonized reporting, and traceable calibration for consistent preservative measurement across laboratories.

Related standards

• ISO 1513 (sample preparation)
• ISO 3696 (laboratory water quality)
• ISO 15528 (sampling)
• ISO 4618 and ISO 11890-2 (terminology and related paint definitions)
• Other parts of the ISO 7012 series (see ISO website for full listing)

Keywords: paints and varnishes, in‑can isothiazolinones, preservatives, LC‑UV, LC‑MS, LC‑MS/MS, HPLC, UPLC, polymer dispersions, analytical methods.