scope:

This International Standard specifies a method for determining ε-caprolactam and ω-laurolactam in polyamides by gas chromatography. It is suitable particularly for the determination of ε-caprolactam in polyamide 6 and ω-laurolactam in polyamide 12. Bearing in mind that gas chromatography offers a wide range of possible conditions, the method specified is that shown to have been suitable in practice.

Two variants of the basic method are specified:

- Method A is an extraction method with boiling methanol, and the extract is injected into a gas chromatograph.

- Method B is a method using a solvent, and the solution is injected into a gas chromatograph.