scope:

Specifies a method for the determination of the thermal stability at elevated temperatures of compounds and products based on vinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers (in the following text abbreviated to PVC) which undergo dehydrochlorination (the evolution of hydrogen chloride). The method may be used as a quality-control test during manufacture and conversion of PVC compounds. It may be used also for the characterization of PVC compounds and products, especially with regards to the effectiveness of their heatstabilizing systems. It is suitable for coloured compounds and products where a discolouration test under the action of heat may be unsatisfactory.