Paint and pigment

Paint analysis laboratory

Specialist in radiocarbon dating since 2005, CIRAM analyzes, attests, and certifies all of your bio-based products, and particularly your paints, pigments, and varnishes.

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Industrial pigment powder used for characterizing bio-based paints

Regulatory context and certification of bio-based paints

With the rise of green chemistry, bio-based paints are establishing themselves as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based paints. To ensure their compliance, several standards and reference frameworks govern their marketing:

  • ISO 16620-2 standard: it allows for the determination of the bio-based content of a polymer material by carbon-14 analysis.
  • NF EN 16640: applicable to products containing unmodified organic carbon, it specifies the method for determining the bio-based content by mass spectrometry.
  • Environmental labels (Bio-based Product label, NF Environnement, etc.): they require scientific proof of the renewable origin of the components.

Whether you need support for your R&D, to check the quality of your suppliers' products, to measure your finished materials, CIRAM supports you at every stage of your industrial process.

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A laboratory scientist analyzing a sample using a scanning electron microscope (SEM)

Carbon 14, a key indicator for your bio-based paints

Radiocarbon dating is based on a simple principle: bio-based materials contain carbon 14, an isotope naturally present in living organisms, while fossil materials are devoid of it. By quantifying this carbon 14 in a sample (binder, pigment, solvent), CIRAM precisely determines its renewable content.

Our team of scientists uses accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), a highly precise method (±0.5%) requiring only a few milligrams of sample.

Attention, some paints contain calcium carbonate of geological origin, devoid of carbon 14. This is counted as fossil material according to the NF EN 16640 standard, which measures the bio-based content relative to the total carbon.

A prior discussion with our teams is therefore recommended in order to interpret the results correctly.

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Challenges and practical applications
biosourced paints for manufacturers

01 - Environmental and commercial enhancement

A bio-based certified paint, with a precise percentage of renewable material, clearly highlights the company's environmental efforts.

Thanks to radiocarbon analysis, manufacturers can provide scientific proof of this renewable origin, lending credibility to their marketing communications. This strengthens partner confidence and facilitates the obtaining of environmental labels or private certifications that require quantified data on product composition.

For example, to meet the requirements of the Karibati standard and obtain theBio-based Product label, your paints must contain at least 20% bio-based material.

02 - Integration into CSR strategy and reporting

Data from carbon-14 analysis can be used in CSR reports, carbon footprints, and non-financial performance statements (DPEF). They allow for precise quantification of the renewable share of products and the valorization of decarbonization efforts, particularly concerning indirect Scope 3 emissions.

In an evolving regulatory context, this information strengthens the credibility of our environmental commitments and facilitates dialogue with stakeholders, whether customers or investors.

03 - Support for R&D departments

Carbon 14 analysis of industrial paints is also a strategic tool for research and development teams. By measuring the bio-based content of different formulations, it helps guide the choice of raw materials from the design phase. R&D departments can thus compare several versions of the same product, optimize the formulation to increase the renewable content, or validate the integration of new bio-based resins, fillers, or solvents.

This approach contributes to the development of more sustainable paints, in line with new market expectations and future regulations.

Why choose CIRAM laboratories
for the analysis of your bio-based paints?

Choosing CIRAM means relying on over 20 years of expertise in radiocarbon dating and analysis to benefit from a rigorous evaluation, compliant with the most demanding standards. Thanks to the use of accelerator mass spectrometry(AMS), CIRAM offers unparalleled precision, even for small-sized samples. This cutting-edge technology allows for the analysis of binders, solvents, and mineral fillers integrated into your paints.

The results delivered are fully usable in a regulatory and certifying framework: the analyses are conducted according to ISO 16620-2 standards and NF EN 16640, widely recognized in the industrial sector and by labeling bodies.

Benefit from the expertise of the European leader in radiocarbon dating and request your study on our website.

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Are you asking yourself these questions?

What method does CIRAM use to analyze bio-based paints and pigments?

CIRAM uses gas pedal mass spectrometry (AMS) to measure the carbon-14 concentration in paint components (binders, solvents, pigments). This cutting-edge method makes it possible to accurately determine a product's biobased content, even on very small sample quantities.

What are the reference standards for analyzing bio-based paints and pigments?

The main reference standards are :

  • ISO 16620-2, specific to bio-based plastics, which applies to polymer paint binders,
  • EN 16640, which sets out the method for determining the biobased content of carbon-containing materials using radiocarbon.
Which paint components can be analyzed by radiocarbon?

We can analyze the paint as a whole, or the binders, solvents, fillers or pigments separately.

How long does it take to obtain the results of an analysis of bio-based paints?

Results are available within 10 working days.

How can I request an analysis of bio-based paints from CIRAM?

Simply contact us via our website or by telephone to obtain a quotation and arrange for samples to be sent to our laboratory.

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