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1.1 This test method covers the use of inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses for determination of the mass fraction of total silver in consumer textile products made of any combination of natural or manufactured fibers. Either ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis is recommended as a first step to test for and quantify silver in a textile and results can be used to inform subsequent, more detailed analyses as part of the tiered approach described in Guide E3025 to determine if a textile contains silver nanomaterial(s).

1.2 This test method prescribes acid digestion to prepare test sample solutions from samples of textiles utilizing an appropriate internal standard followed by external calibration and analysis with either ICP-OES or ICP-MS to quantify total silver.

1.3 This test method is believed to provide quantitative results for textiles made of fibers of rayon, cotton, polyester, and lycra that contain metallic silver (see Section 17). It is the analyst’s responsibility to establish the efficacy (ability to achieve the planned and desired analytical result) of this test method for other textile matrices and forms of silver.

1.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurements are included in this standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

5.1 Silver may be used to treat consumer textile products to provide enhanced antimicrobial (fungi, bacteria, viruses) properties (3, 4). At any point in a textile product’s lifecycle, there may be a need to measure the amount of silver present. This standard prescribes a test method based on ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis that manufacturers, producers, analysts, policymakers, regulators, and others may use for measurement of total silver in textiles. As described in Guide E3025, determination of total silver in a consumer textile product is one component of a tiered approach to determine if silver is present, possibly as nanomaterial(s) (one or more external dimensions in the nanoscale), prior to measuring the form and dimension of the Ag that is found. ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis alone is not sufficient to determine whether a textile contains silver nanomaterial(s).

5.2 As described in Guide E3025, the amount of silver in a textile can decrease over time as silver metal and silver compounds can react with oxygen and other oxidation-reduction (redox) active agents present in the environment to form soluble ionic species which are released by contact with moisture (for example, from ambient humidity, washing, body sweat, rain, or other sources). Hence, if silver is measured in a textile, the result may only be indicative of that moment in the article’s life cycle and great care is necessary in drawing temporal inferences from the results.

5.3 If silver is measured by ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis, additional analyses are needed to elucidate the form of silver in the textile specimen. This step is necessary because ICP-OES or ICP-MS results are for total silver independent of chemical and physical form and textiles may be treated with silver in sizes that range from the nanoscale (for example, salt nanoparticles) to the micrometer scale (for example, particulates or fibers).

5.4 If no silver is detected by ICP-OES, the more sensitive ICP-MS should be used to determine if silver is present in a test specimen. If no silver is detected in a textile sample using appropriate (fit for purpose) analytical techniques, then testing can be terminated.

5.5 Results of ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis may be qualitative or quantitative, depending upon the efficacy of the digestion procedure for the textile matrix. Regardless, ICP-OES or ICP-MS analysis is recommended as a first step to screen for the presence of silver in a textile and results can be used to inform subsequent more detailed analyses as part of a tiered approach to determine if a textile contains silver nanomaterial(s).