POLYURETHANE

Polyurethane is used to make many key structural, functional, and aesthetic parts that go into cars. PU foam makes up the seat cushioning the ride, the adhesive securing the windshield in place, and the paint making up that shiny new finish. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) parts are  also present in many automobiles.  Isocyanates are used in the manufacturing processes for urethane parts and in the coatings sprayed on cars and trucks to protect them from weather and rust. Workers in the automotive industry who come in close proximity to isocyanates have the potential to be exposed. SafeAir MDI and TDI badges help to keep workers safe from the risk of isocyanate exposure in an affordable, easy to use, and fast acting detection platform.

TDI & MDI along with some of their aliphatic isocyanate counterparts are used in the production of sealants, adhesives, coatings, and elastomers. Employees manufacturing these products run the risk of isocyanate exposure by being in close contact with such compounds. The SafeAir TDI & MDI badge indicates the presence of aromatic isocyanates helping to protect employees from the risk of occupational exposure.

A large portion of the world’s annual polyurethane foam production goes into making the chairs, couches, and mattresses that keep us comfortable. Isocyanates are combined with polyols to form plush flexible foams which are then cut, molded, and stuffed into the cushions and cases that make up the finished furniture product. Workers who come in close proximity to uncured foam and foam being cut with heated methods, such as lasers or hotwire cutting, risk isocyanate exposure from the vapors that are released by the foam. SafeAir badges help to keep employees safe from isocyanate exposure when working in close proximity to hazardous isocyanate fumes.

Spray foam is used throughout the building and construction industry to insulate structures. Spray foam is typically generated on-site using specialized equipment which mixes polyurethane formulations containing MDI and polyols. Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) technicians and applicators are aware of the hazards occupational exposure to isocyanates like MDI pose. While these professionals typically use supplied air breathing respirators when spraying foam, MDI exposure remains a challenge facing the spray foam industry. SafeAir badges make detecting MDI and monitoring employee exposure to isocyanates easy. With the proper training, respiratory protective equipment, and isocyanate detection equipment, occupational exposure to isocyanates can be minimized. SafeAir MDI badges help to protect spray foam applicators and their helpers from the hazard of isocyanate exposure.

Similar to spray foam applications, spray polyurethane coatings are applied directly to the surface being treated. These coatings are used to protect buildings, floors, vehicles, roofs, and equipment from exposure to the elements. Urethane coatings provide exceptional weathering performance characteristics and are the coating of choice for many contractors. Applicators spraying these coatings and those working in close proximity to them run the risk of isocyanate exposure. Until these coatings are fully cured, they have the potential to release harmful isocyanate vapors. SafeAir badges help to protect workers from isocyanate exposure when working with spray polyurethane coatings.

Used in the production of both rigid and flexible foams, isocyanates are mixed on a conveyor belt with polyols to form different types of polyurethane foam. Different combinations in the polyurethane chemical mix, as well as other technical factors like temperature, dictate the properties the finished foam will have. Polyurethane formulation technicians and chemists work to find the best type of foam for a specific application. Open cell foams are used for soft flexible applications and closed cell foams are used in applications requiring rigid foam. Workers in close proximity to polyurethane slab stock production lines risk exposure to polyurethane chemicals such as isocyanates. SafeAir badges can be used to determine each employee’s exposure to isocyanates. Because they monitor each employee, SafeAir badges provide an added layer of safety when used in conjunction with stationary isocyanate detectors. SafeAir TDI & MDI badges help to ensure employees are safe from isocyanate exposure when working in polyurethane foam production facilities.

Chemical plants produce millions of tons of isocyanates a year, using phosgene gas as a precursor in a reaction that forms isocyanates. Phosgene, a deadly pulmonary-agent which was used as a chemical weapon during WWI, is now used as a chemical building block in the production of isocyanates for polyurethanes as well as other products such as polycarbonate plastics. Due to its scheduling as a chemical weapon and the strict safety precautions needed, phosgene is not usually transported. Instead, it is typically produced in a closed system using carbon monoxide and chlorine gas, and then used up within the same plant in the production of isocyanates or other chemicals. Employees at isocyanate production plants risk phosgene exposure, as well as exposure to other chemicals such as isocyanates and chlorine. SafeAir phosgene badges have been widely adopted by the industry for their ability to monitor employee exposure to phosgene and to immediately and accurately alert the user to an exposure.