Leaching tests for determination of the mobile fraction in construction products
- Construction products are often complex materials and often contain a large number of additives like plasticizers, solvents, stabilizers and pigments, which can be released to the environment during usage by leaching when the product is in contact with water. The impact of potentially hazardous substances on the environment depends on actual release rather than the total content in the products. Depending on the compound and on the matrix, only a small portion is transferred to the environment and becomes bioavailable.
Leaching tests were developed and standardized by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to determine the potential release of construction products.