What Am I, a Substance, a Mixture or an Article?

© 2016 SUKHRAJ TAKHAR ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Handlebars
(possibly paint coated /
plated)
Seat
(plastic / rubber)
Tyres
(plastic /
rubber)
Chain
(degreaser /
anti-rust)
Brakepads
( Degreaser / Metal
Plated / Rubber)
Painted
Frame
Handle bar grips (DEHP)
Pedals
(plastic /
rubber)
Brake and gear
cable (plastic)
What Am I – Substance, Mixture
or Article?
Disclaimer: The intention of this presentation is to discuss simple object identification and
classification.
Created by: Raj Takhar, PhD Researcher
First Published: August 2016

Contents
• Introduction
• Some Simple Definitions
• Objects
• Shape, Surface, Design
• Example Substances, Mixtures and Articles
• Other Considerations

Introduction
This document is part of a series of LinkedIn posts
authored by myself entitled “Searching the path
towards sustainable chemical substance reporting.”
Please spare some time to read through the posts
as they are an integral part of understanding this
topic.
If you have any comments please email me
sukhrajtakhar@hotmail.com.

Some Simple Definitions
Term Meaning
Substance Lowest level ingredient.
Byproduct
Mixture
Coating
An Article can be defined as "An object composed of one or more substances or mixtures
given a specific, shape or design". This essentially means that a substance or mixture forms
into an article when it is converted into a functional shape (a shape important to its role).
A substance which is produced during the manufacturing / processing of other chemical
substances.
Two or more substances combined. Often referred to as a formulation.
A thin layer of material applied onto the surface to provide lubrication, wear prevention,
lubrication, corrosion, resistance to high temperatures, or other purposes. A coating can be
less than 1 mm in thickness.
Plating Forms a layer of metal on a surface.
Article
Article Importer
An Article Importer can be defined as "Any company located inside the EEA that imports
articles from countries that are located outside the EEA."
Article Supplier
An Article Supplier can be defined as "Place articles on the market in the EEA. Thus, the role
of article supplier is irrespective of whether the supplier produces the articles himself or
whether he purchases them (inside or outside of the EEA)."
Part Description
A part description can be defined as the descriptive name by which an article is called by
the article producer, for example a bolt, a tin of degreaser, a bottle of window cleaner. Part
descriptions are meant to be generalised names, not specific product names.

Objects
We shall start our analysis by using the phrase ‘object’ as the starting
reference point to describe an entity which then needs to be then categorized
as either substance, mixture or article.
Consider:
• What is the function of an object? – What is the intended use of the
object?
• Shape, surface and design of the object – Physical form as determined by
the production process. Shape, Surface or Design are really important to
understand as chemical regulations focus on how an article is transformed
as part of the production process.
• Physical form > chemical composition?
There is a degree of analysis and determination which must take place to
decide if a object is indeed an article or not.

What Is The Function of The Object? (i)
Look at the object, object on
the left.
What types of features do you
think it has? – think about the
shape, angles, edges .
Does this result in displaying the
use of the object? – things may
never appear as they first seem.
Determine the function of an object. Lets begin with a
simple example:

What Is The Function of The Object? (ii)
The purpose of this example is
to show, that simply viewing an
object at first glance does not
necessarily mean its functions
are instantly determined.
This is a problem for producers,
an object may be created for a
specific function, which in turn
results in different functions as
consumers view the object.
The shape on the previous page is actually a vane, which
inserted into higher assembly which then becomes a disc
which is part of a jet engine.

What Is The Function of The Object? (iii)
Here is the classic example. This infamous blue pill, which
started off life as a beta-blocker for senior people.
Obviously as history has shown us, the function of this
object ended up being completely something else.
Imagine this, as just as an object which was made with
one SVHC substance, and was registered for one use
(the beta blocker), would it be as popular today as a
result of this?

What Is The Function of The Object? (iv)
Human beings have an amazing capability to design
objects from conceptual thoughts, into drawings and
then into a physical form.
The design intent of an object can be considered the
original purpose of an object, which should be viewed as
the basic use of the object.

Shape
Square Triangle Rectangle Circle Pentagon
Diamond
Hexagon Octagon Oval Star
CylinderSphere
Pyramid
Cone Cuboid
Shapes, simple geometry objects …...
Shape
• 2-D or 3-D form of an object.
• Elements of design to accomplish a particular purpose of an
object / article.

Surface, Design
Surface
• The outermost layer of an article.
Design
• The main reason for use of an article.
2-D Geometry 3-D Geometry

Physical Form Versus Chemical Composition
Shape, Surface and Design relate to the physical
form of an object.
Chemical Characteristics relate to material
composition of the object.

Substance?, Mixture? or Article
The figure below shows the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), which is a really useful aid:
1.IdentifyObjectFunction
2.IstheShape
/Surface/Designfunction
>than
thechemical
composition?
3.Doesthe
object
containasubstance/mixture
thatcanbeseparatedfrom
theobject?
4.(a)Ifthesubstance/mixturewasseparatedfromthe
object,andusedindependently,wouldthesubstance/
mixturestillbecapableinprincipleofcarryingoutthe
functiondefinedunderstep1?
(b)Doestheobjectactmainly(asperthefunction
definedunderstep1)asacontainerorcarrierfor
releaseorcontrolleddeliveryofthesubstance/mixture
oritsreactionproducts?
(c)Isthesubstance/mixtureconsumed(chemicalor
physicalmodification)oreliminated(releasedfromthe
object)duringtheusephaseoftheobject,thereby
renderingtheobjectuseless?
5.(a)(Ifthesubstance/mixtureweretoberemovedor
separatedfromtheobject,wouldtheobjectbeunable
tofulfilitsintendedpurpose?
(b)Isthemainpurposeoftheobjectotherthanto
deliverthesubstance/mixtureoritsreactionproducts?
(c)Istheobjectnormallydiscardedwiththe
substance/mixtureattheendofitsservicelife,i.e.at
disposal?
6.(a)Doestheobjecthaveafunctionotherthanbeing
furtherprocessed?
(b)Doesthesellerplacetheobjectonthemarketand/
oristhecustomermainlyinterestedinacquiringthe
objectbecauseofitsshape/surface/design(andless
becauseofitschemicalcomposition)?
(c)Whenfurtherprocessed,doestheobjectundergo
only“lightprocessing”,i.e.nogrosschangesinshape?
(d)Whenfurtherprocessed,doesthechemical
compositionoftheobjectremainthesame?
Object
Objectconsistsofa
substanceormixture
andanarticle
Yes
MostlyNo
No
Objectisanarticle
Objectisasubstance
ormixture
MostlyNo
Mostly
Yes
No
MostlyNo
Mostly
Yes
Yes
Notpossibletounambiguouslyconcludeyesorno
PictureCourtesyof'ECHA-Guidanceonrequirementsinarticles',Version4.0,July2016

Example Substances, Materials and Articles
The examples shown in the table below will be used throughout this presentation
to show different calculation methods (additional examples are provided in the
Appendix One):
Example Substance / Mixture / Article Comments
Blasting Grit Mixture Detail SVHC name(s).
Electrical Cable
Article and a mixture. Copper wire considered an
article, with PVC coating a mixture which is applied
to it.
Detail SVHC name(s).
PC Computer Very complex article
Detail SVHC name(s) and a part
description.
Sofa
Article consisting of several articles. The sofa is
made up from several sub-components which
contain SVHC’s (cushion foam / cover)
description.
Plastic Chair
Considered as single article as single injection
moulded article.
Detail SVHC name(s).
Mixture as its mix of wax and colour pigments.
Composition is more important than physical shape. Detail SVHC name(s).Wax Crayon
Printer Cartridge
Article (as an ink container); or as a substance/
mixture in relation to contained ink. Detail SVHC name(s).
Bicycle
Article consisting of several articles. The bicycle is
made up from several sub-components which
contain SVHC’s (handle grips)
description.
Thermometer Article containing a liquid Detail SVHC name(s).
Aero Engine Very complex article
description.
Printed T-Shirt
Article (in finished state) which contains a
substance/mixture (Painted ink) Detail SVHC name(s).

Simple Example A – Aero Engine
• An aero engine can be considered as Very
Complex Article, made up of potentially several
thousand smaller articles (as these may be sold
as separate spare parts).
• Identify material / process specifications which
contain an SVHC
Image Courtesy of : Pratt and Whitney
Simple Example B – Bicycle
Handlebars
(possibly paint coated /
plated)
Seat
(plastic / rubber)
Tyres
(plastic /
rubber)
Chain
(degreaser /
anti-rust)
Brakepads
( Degreaser / Metal
Plated / Rubber)
Painted
Frame
Handle bar grips (DEHP)
Pedals
(plastic /
rubber)
Brake and gear
cable (plastic)
• The bicycle is a Article made up from
several smaller articles, some of which are
shown in the figure to the left.
• These smaller articles may be sold as
spares, as such the may contain SVHC’s >
0.1% w/w.

Simple Example C – Electrical Cable
• Examine a simple electrical cable.
• The cable is made up of copper wire which is
protected by a PVC coating.
• The complete cable can be considered as an
Article, whilst the PVC applied to it is considered
a Mixture.
Simple Example D – Personal Computer (PC)
• PC made up from several smaller articles.
• It can be considered A Very Complex
Article

Simple Example E – Plastic Chair
• Injection moulded Article
Simple Example F – Printer Cartridge
• Inkjet printer cartridge which fulfils 2 roles:
– (a) As a container of ink (Article)
– (b) The ink substance and mixture itself
(Mixture)
Image Courtesy of : Hewlett Packard

Simple Example G – Printed T-Shirt
• Article
Simple Example H – Sofa
• Article consisting of several articles
Image Courtesy of : Coca-Cola

Simple Example I – Thermometer
• Thermometer is classed as an Article containing a liquid
(substance / mixture).
Other Considerations
• Packaging is considered as being not be part of the
substance, mixture or article, which is enclosed within it.
• Packaging must be considered as a separate Article
under EU REACH.

References
1. 'European CHemical Agency [ECHA] - Guidance on
requirements in articles', Version 4.0, July 2016.
Contact Me
sukhrajtakhar@hotmail.com

What Am I, a Substance, a Mixture or an Article?

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