Explanatory Memorandum to COM(1979)567 -

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dossier COM(1979)567 - .
source COM(1979)567 EN
date 23-10-1979
In order to remove technical barriers to trade and provide consumers with essential information on textiles/ Council Directive 71/307/EEC of 26 July 1971 makes provision for the mandatory labelling of the quantitative

and qualitative fibre composition of textile products.

' • ’ * . -

As compliance with this general obligation is monitored by means of analysis/ it is essential that the methods of analysing the various mixtures on the -market be harmonized; that is why Article 13 of the abovementioned Directive

specifies that : "Separate directives will specify the sampling and

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analysing methods to be used in allMember States to determine the fibre composition of products covered by this Directive".

Consequently an initial Council Directive (72/276/EEC) was adopted on 17 July 1972 and contains in an Annex harmonized methods of analysis for 13 binary mixtures corresponding to some of the most widespread textile products on , the market. <

The-list of methods laid down in the abovementioned Directive is not/ however/ exhaustive and must gradually be supplemented by harmonized methods of analysis for other textile products consisting of binary mixtures that are on the market.

This Directive is therefore a first addition to Directive 72/276/EEC.

Its Annex contains methods of analysis for two important products that have recently appeared on the market : products composed of binary mixtures containing polypropylene fibrs and containing chlorofibres. .

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These methods, numbered 14 and 15, have been prepared by the Commission's Technical Working Party on textile names and labelling (analysis) on the basis of ISO methods Nos 15 and 16 (International Standard ISO 1833, 1977 Second Edition) after numerous interlaboratory tests. _

An early date is envisaged for the entry into force of the provisions of national law necessary for the implementation of this Directive: indeed, these measures concern only a limited nunber of national laboratories.

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, ,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Contents

1.

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, "


Whereas Council Directive 71/307/EEC of 26 July 1971 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to textile names (1) lays down provisions on the mandatory labelling of the fibre composition of textile products; .

Whereas, pursuant to Article 13 of the above mentioned Directive 71/307/EEC, Counc: Directive 72/276/EEC of 17 July 1972 on the approximation of the laws of i

. ' . ’ .. i

the Member States relating to certain methods for the quantitative analysis j

of binary textile fibre mixtures (2) lays down thirteen uni form,methods of ana- ! lysis for most of the textile products composed of binary mixtures that \

are on the market;

Whereas textile products consisting of polypropylene fibres and certain .

other fibres and products consisting of chlorofibres based on homopolymers :

of vinyl chloride and certain other fibres which are also subject to the ;

2.

labelling obligation provided for irr Directive 71/307/EEC, are not . .' - I


covered by the above mentioned Directive 72/276/EEC,and consequently : uniform methods of analysis applicable to these products should be

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established; ' j

0J No L 185, 16.8.1971, p. 16

0J No L i73, 31.7.1972/ p.1‘


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f

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HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

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Article 1 ,

Special methods Nos 14 and 15 set out in the Annex to this Directive are hereby added to Annex 11(2) of Council Directive 72/276/EEC. ,

3.

Article 2


4.

1. Member States shall bring into force the provisions necessary to comply with this Directive within one year of its notification. They shall forth


with inform the Commission thereof. .

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2. As soon as this Directive has been notified. Member States shall also ensure that the Commission is informed, in sufficient time for it to submit its comments, of any draft laws,- regulations or administrative provisions which they intend to adopt in the field covered by this

Directive.

5.

Article 3


This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

ANNEX

6.

METHODS FOR QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN BINARY FIBRE MIXTURES


■ 'METHOD NO. 14 . •

POLYPROPYLENE FIBRES ‘AND CERTAIN OTHER FIBRES

(Xylene method)

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION ‘

This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to , binary mixtures of . -

1. polypropylene fibres (3l) 1 .

• with i ■ - - - . .

2. wool (l) animal hair (2 and 3) silk (4), cotton (5), acetate (17), cupro (19), modal (20), triacetate (22). viscose (23),

acrylic '(24), nylon (28), polyester (29), and glass fibres (38).

2. PRINCIPLE ; ' ■ ' - -

The polypropylene fibre is dissolved from a known dry mass of the mixture with boiling, xylene. The residue is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the dry mass of the mixture• The percentage of polypropylene is found by difference. . .

3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the'general ....

instructions) . ,

3.1. Apparatus ' . - ■ .

i) Conical flasks, of minimum capacity 200 ml, glass stoppered.

ii) Reflux condenser (suitable for liquids of high boiling point)

- fitting the conical flasks i).

3.2. Reagent . . "

- Xylene distilling between 137 and 141°C.

Note. This reagent is highly flammable and has a toxic vapour,

- suitable precautions must be taken in its use. .

4. TEST PROCEDURE '

Apply the method described in the general instructions, then proceed as follows : '

To the specimen contained In the conical flask (3'l.i), add 100 ml of xylene (3.2) per gram of specimen. Attach the condenser (3.1.ii) and bring the contents to the boil and maintain at boiling point for three minutes. Immediately decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible (see note l)• Repeat this treatment twice more, each time using a fresh 50 portion of solvent.

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Nash the residue remaining in the flask successively'with 30 ml of "boiling xylene (twice), then with 75 ml of light petroleum (i.3.2.1) of the general part) (twice). Af.ter the second wash with light petroleum, filter the contents of the flask through the crucible,, transfer, any residual fibres to the crucible with the aid of a small quantity of light petroleum and allow the solvent to evaporate. Dry the crucible and residue, cool and weigh them.

NOTES '

1. The filter crucible through wliich the xylene is to be deoanted

- must be preheated. ■

2. After the treatment with boiling xylene, ensure that the flask

, containing the residue is cooled sufficiently before the light

petroleum is introduced. . "

3. In order to reduce the fire and toxic hazards to the operator a hot extraction apparatus using the appropriate procedures,

• giving identical results, may be used; see, for example, the

apparatus described in Ilelliand Textilberichte 56 (l975)' .

pp 643-645. -

5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS

/ ' .

Calculate the results as described in the general instructions.

The value of d is 1.00. .

6. PRECISION . ' ..

For homogeneous mixtures of textile materials, the confidence limits -■ of results obtained by this method are not greater than + 1 for; the confidence level of 95$' ’

CHLOROFIBRES (HOKOPOLYKERS OF VINYL CHLORIDE)

AND CERTAIN OTHER FIBRES ' ! '

(Concentrated sulphuric acid method) -

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION ‘ •

This method is applicable, after removal of non-fibrous matter, to binary mixtures of

1. chlorofibres (25) based on homopolymers of vinyl chloride (after-chlorinated or not) .

with • ' " '

2. cotton (5), acetate (17), oupro (l9)' modal (20),

_ triacetate (22), viscose (23), certain acrylic (24), certain - modacrylic fibres (27), nylon (28) and polyester (29).- The ' modacrylics concerned are those which give a limpid solution when , immersed in concentrated sulphuric acid (relative density I.84 . at 20°C). . ' . '

This method can be used in place of Methods 8 or 9. '

2. PRINCIPLE ■ ■ ' . ■ ■ ■

The constituent other than .the chlorofibre (i.e. the fibres mentioned under point 2 of § 1) is dissolved from a known dry mass of the mixture with concentrated sulphuric acid (p20=1.84 g/ml). The residue, consisting of the chlorofibre, is collected, washed, dried and weighed; its mass, corrected if necessary, is expressed as a percentage of the^dry mass of the mixture. The percentage of the second constituent is obtained by difference. , •

3. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS (other than those specified in the general

instructions) . ■

3.1. Apparatus . • ’ - .

i) Conical flask, of minimum capacity 200 ml, glass stoppered.

ii) Glass rod with flattened end.

3.2. Reagents . . - '

i) Sulpl-mric acid, concentrated ((> 20 = i.84 g/ml)

ii) Sulphuric acid, 50$ (m/m) approximately.

Prepare by adding carefully, while cooling, 400 ml of sulphuric acid (g20=1.34 g/ml) to 500 ml of distilled or deionised water. After cooling to room temperature, dilute the solution to 1 litre with water. . . '

iii) Ammonia, dilute solution.

Dilute 60 ml of oonoentrated ammonia solution (020=0.880g/nl) to 1 litre with distilled water. ^

4. TEST PROCEDURE

Follow the procedure specified in the general instructions, then proceed as follows : • .

To the specimen contained in the flask (3.1.i) add 100 ml of sulphuric acid (3.2.i) per gram of specimen.

Allow.the contents of the flask to remain at room temperature for 10 min , and during that time stir the test specimen occasionally by means of the glass rod. If a woven or knitted fabric is being treated, wedge it between the wall of the flask and the glass rod and exert a light pressure in order to separate the material dissolved by the sulphuric acid. _

Decant the liquid through the weighed filter crucible. Add to the. flask a fresh portion of 100 ml of sulphuric acid •

.' (3.2.i) and repeat the same operation. Transfer the contents - of.the flask to the filter crucible and transfer the fibrous residue there with the aid of the glass rod. If necessary, ,

add a little concentrated sulphuric acid (3.2.i) to the flask in order to remove any fibres adhering to the wall. Drain the s filter crucible with suction; remove the filtrate by emptying . or changing the filter-flaslc, wash the residue in the ' crucible successively with 50$ sulphuric acid solution (3.2.ii)v distilled or deionized water (I-3-2-3 of the general part), ammonia . solution^ (3.2.iii) and finally wash thoroughly with distilled or deionized water, draining the crucible with suction after each addition. (Do not apply suction during the washing operation, but only after the liquid has drained off by gravity.)

• Dry the crucible and residue, cool and weigh them. ”

5. CALCULATION AND EXPRESSION OF RESULTS . . ' -

Calculate the results as described in the general instructions.-The value of d is 1.00. . ^

6. PRECISION .

. For homogeneous mixtures of textile materials, the confidence -limits of results obtained by this method are not greater than >

- • + 1 for the confidence level of 95$•. -