May 2025 Standards Overview: Rubber and Plastics Industries

Looking back at May 2025, the Rubber and Plastics Industries sector saw the publication of three standards that collectively advanced analytical rigor, product reliability, and quality assurance across plastics and rubber applications. From detailed calorimetric analysis of polymers to updated procedures for ash content in poly(vinyl chloride), and robust requirements for compact hydraulic hoses, these documents responded directly to current technical and regulatory challenges. This overview is an indispensable resource for professionals who seek not only to stay compliant, but to drive innovation, maintain supply chain assurance, and build products with confidence.

Monthly Overview: May 2025

May 2025 was marked by a strong focus on analytical precision and product performance within the Rubber and Plastics Industries. Notably, each newly published standard addressed pivotal stages in the product lifecycle—material characterization, formulation verification, and functional specification.

• Analytical methods for characterizing reaction properties in polymers were strengthened and clarified, reflecting the sector’s ongoing push for reproducible data in product development and manufacturing.
• Quality assurance protocols for PVC formulations received a targeted update, supporting both regulatory needs and end-use performance as compounding science grows more complex.
• Hydraulic system reliability and safety were reaffirmed with rigorous requirements for rubber hose assemblies, responding to the expansion of applications in high-pressure, temperature-variable environments.

In aggregate, May’s standards activity reflected a mature, multi-faceted view of quality—one driven not just by compliance, but by the intention to reduce risk, enhance traceability, and respond to technical evolutions in polymer science and engineering.

Standards Published This Month

ISO 11357-5:2025 - Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for Reaction Temperatures in Plastics

Plastics – Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) – Part 5: Determination of characteristic reaction-curve temperatures and times, enthalpy of reaction and degree of conversion

This third edition of ISO 11357-5 defines a comprehensive methodology using conventional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to measure the key phase transformation characteristics of polymers, monomers, and prepolymers—including reaction temperatures, times, reaction enthalpy, and degree of conversion. The standard thoroughly details the steps for both temperature-scanning and isothermal methods, ensuring consistency when characterizing materials at the molecular transformation level.

The document is especially important for R&D, quality control, and process engineering roles where accurate thermal analysis underpins everything from new product formulation to process optimization. Notable, too, is its explicit limitation to conventional DSC (excluding fast DSC, now covered by ISO 23976), promoting method clarity and regulatory confidence.

The standard aligns with the latest international terminology and incorporates updated references, specimen conditioning methods, and guidance on interpreting overlapping reactions—offering clear practical guidance for the contemporary laboratory.

Key highlights:

• Defines reproducible test protocol for determining polymerization and crosslinking parameters
• Specifies calculation procedures for degree of conversion using both temperature and isothermal protocols
• Scope clarified to conventional DSC techniques for enhanced result comparability

Access the full standard:View ISO 11357-5:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 3451-5:2025 - Ash Determination in Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)

Plastics – Determination of ash – Part 5: Poly(vinyl chloride) (ISO 3451-5:2025)

The 2025 edition of EN ISO 3451-5 standardizes three analytical protocols for determining the ash content in PVC resins, compounds, and finished products, with a focus on improved relevance and safety. By adapting procedures (direct calcination, sulfation before or after combustion), the standard accommodates modern formulation realities—including complex fillers and lead-containing ingredients—while harmonizing with improvements from international interlaboratory testing.

For producers, formulators, and quality control labs, this document is fundamental for verifying material attribution, detecting contaminants, and demonstrating compliance—especially as regulatory scrutiny of additives continues to intensify. The revision updates safety guidance (acknowledging fume risks from hydrogen chloride evolution) and augments equipment options, notably recognizing the increasing use of thermobalances in routine analysis.

The practical impact is felt across procurement, material acceptance testing, and R&D: professionals can more confidently assure their materials meet both internal specifications and external regulations.

Key highlights:

• Introduces three validated ash determination methods tailored for PVC, including use with modern fillers
• Recognizes thermobalance as an alternative, promoting analytical efficiency
• Updates safety guidance and reporting protocols for enhanced regulatory alignment

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 3451-5:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 11237:2025 - Compact Wire-Braid Reinforced Hydraulic Rubber Hoses

Rubber hoses and hose assemblies – Compact wire-braid-reinforced hydraulic types for oil-based or water-based fluids – Specification

ISO 11237:2025 offers a comprehensive specification for five categories of compact, wire-braid-reinforced hydraulic hoses and their assemblies, suitable for both oil- and water-based fluids. Ranging in nominal sizes from 5 to 76, these hoses are vital in fluid power systems operating between -40°C and +100°C (for oil) and 0°C to +70°C (for water/water-based fluids).

The new edition harmonizes specification clauses around fluid compatibility, dimensional tolerances, pressure ratings, test frequency, and marking, reflecting advances in materials science and end-use safety. By aligning hydraulic hose requirements with international standards (such as ISO 1436, ISO 1817, and ISO 8033), it supports both global inter-operability and local compliance in fluid handling, vehicle, and industrial applications.

The standard addresses evolving operational challenges—such as impulse resistance, leak prevention, ozone degradation, and assembly procedures—offering practical value to manufacturers, engineers, and procurement managers specifying hoses for demanding service conditions.

Key highlights:

• Specifies hose types, dimensional requirements, and maximum working pressures for five categories
• Expands performance criteria for flexibility, impulse life, leak resistance, and material compatibility
• Aligns with global standards and introduces new hose sizes, reflecting changing application needs

Access the full standard:View ISO 11237:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A close review of May 2025’s standards releases reveals several converging themes in Rubber and Plastics Industries:

• Elevated Analytical Rigor: Both ISO 11357-5:2025 and EN ISO 3451-5:2025 underscore a heightened demand for clarity, reproducibility, and actionable data in analytical protocols. Standardizing test conditions, calibration, and reporting underpins product innovation and regulatory trust.

• Material Verification and Traceability: The focus on PVC ash content reflects a market-wide push for traceable raw materials, precise formulation, and responsible sourcing—particularly significant as regulations on additives, fillers, and legacy compounds (like lead) evolve.

• Performance-Driven Product Design: The rubber hose specifications in ISO 11237:2025 are emblematic of a renewed emphasis on safety, reliability, and serviceability, especially as hydraulic systems expand into higher-pressure and more temperature-variable roles across industries.

• International Alignment: Across all three standards, there is a notable commitment to harmonization, interoperability, and recognition of global best practices—supporting multinational supply chains and cross-border compliance.

These trends point to a sector in which regulatory complexity is being met with more robust methods, continuous revision of legacy tests, and a willingness to adapt to both new hazards (such as advanced chemicals) and technical frontiers.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations impacted by these May 2025 standards, proactive engagement is essential to ensure operational continuity and market acceptance:

• Audit and Gap Analysis: Review current laboratory and production protocols for alignment with updated analytical procedures in ISO 11357-5 and EN ISO 3451-5. Identify training needs and equipment upgrades.

• Documentation Update: Revise internal SOPs, quality manuals, and supplier qualification documents to reflect new test requirements and acceptance criteria.

• Supplier and Client Communications: Communicate new standards adoption and implications to both upstream (suppliers) and downstream (clients/customers) partners to maintain supply chain trust.

• Timeline Planning: Although no fixed compliance date is specified within ISO or CEN mandates, organizations are encouraged to transition promptly to benefit from improved accuracy and acceptance.

• Resource Utilization: Leverage support from standards organizations, technical societies, and platforms like iTeh Standards for access to up-to-date documents and interpretation guidance.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from May 2025

The May 2025 standards publications for the Rubber and Plastics Industries strengthened analytical confidence, product safety, and specification clarity across the entire value chain. Whether your focus is the lab, the factory floor, or regulatory compliance, these standards advance both day-to-day activities and strategic planning:

• ISO 11357-5:2025 redefines DSC analysis for polymer reactions, enabling precise characterization essential to R&D and quality control.
• EN ISO 3451-5:2025 updates the analytical backbone for PVC formulations, supporting compliance in increasingly regulated markets.
• ISO 11237:2025 establishes robust expectations for hydraulic hoses, ensuring safety and reliability in high-stakes industrial applications.

For industry professionals—whether engineers, QA managers, researchers, or procurement specialists—staying current with these updates is not merely a compliance exercise, but a strategic imperative. They ensure your products remain competitive, compliant, and trusted in an environment of evolving expectations.

To learn more or to access the full text of these standards for implementation, visit iTeh Standards and explore the direct resources linked above.