ASTM D6442-03

1.1 This test method covers the laboratory determination of the rate at which copper is released from an antifouling coating in synthetic seawater using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GF-AAS).

1.2 The procedure contains the preparation steps for the leach rate determination of copper from antifouling paints including apparatus, reagents, holding tank conditions, and sampling point details. Analysis for the concentration of copper in seawater requires the accurate determination of copper at the low parts per billion (ppb) level. To detect and correct for reagent impurities, acceptable analytical precision standards are necessary. Therefore, the limit of quantitation for the analytical method should be 6 ppb or less. The method of choice for most commonly available instrument with the greatest sensitivity would be GF-AAS. This procedure is written to include necessary steps to isolate the copper from seawater, thereby increasing sensitivity and eliminating salts that interfere with the use of atomic absorption techniques.

1.3 Other analytical methods may be utilized with appropriate procedural changes, as needed, to accommodate selectd specific methods. Such methods must meet the limit of quantition (6 ppb) as presented in Section

1.4 This test method has not yet been validated to reflect in-situ copper release rates for antifouling products and therefore should not, at present, be used in the process of generating environmental risk assessments. In-service release rates of antifouling (AF) coatings are expected to vary with natural variability in seawater chemistry, temperature, and hydrodynamic regime.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.

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 practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limits prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section .