Epoxy chemistry

Recommendations for those who handle epoxy resins and hardeners

There are currently about 2 million chemical compounds. Many of these we use daily without considering them as chemicals, for example, soap, salt, perfume, alcohol, tobacco, etc. These products, that we constantly use, normally cause no ill effects to our health. The reason for this is that over a long period, we have learned to use them in a risk-free manner.

It is of the greatest importance that we learn to understand how the chemicals we use affect our bodies.

The epoxy resins and their hardeners are complex chemical compounds that in certain cases can give rise to injuries if they are handled in an incorrect manner.

Since the 1950s, the epoxy resins have been used in industry and painting. This is a relatively long time, which gives us certain experience of these plastics’ properties.

The recommendations that we provide here can to some extent generally apply for all handling of epoxy resins and hardeners. We would like to point out, however, that the recommendations apply to products manufactured by Nils Malmgren AB. In cases where local labour safety regulations exist, these shall always be observed.

Which risks for injuries are there in handling of epoxy resins and hardeners?

One can expose oneself in three ways: through the mouth (orally), through skin contact (dermally) and through breathing (inhalation) of vapours or dust.

The pure epoxy resins are considered as non-toxic while most hardeners have a certain amount of toxicity. The risk for injuries caused by the oral intake of epoxy resin, however, may be considered as very slight.

The problems that are caused by epoxy resin and hardener most often arise through skin contact. It can be in the form of irritation and sensitising. On the skin, irritation can cause toxic eczema and sensitising allergic contact eczema.

Among the hardeners, the aliphatic polyamines cause the most skin injuries. They are strongly alkalic and can cause irritations and caustic injuries. Injuries caused by amines can prepare the skin for epoxy eczema.

Amine adducts and polyamides are generally less irritating to the skin than the pure amines. The pure amines are to a certain extents sensitising, while adducts and polyamides hardly ever lead to allergic contact eczema. Inhalation of epoxy resins causes no problems because they are not volatile. As a rule, the hardeners have a stinging odour that can cause temporary irritation in the air passages. Inhalation of amines does not normally cause toxic reactions.

Epoxy resins used in Nils Malmgren AB’s products are not carcinogenic according to the literature that exists on the subject. However, aromatic amines such as 4.4- diaminodiphenylmethane are classified as carcinogenic, and may only be handled subject to approval by local labour safety regulations.

How are epoxy products handled to avoid injuries?

As stated previously, it is primarily skin contact that shall be avoided. To prevent skin contact, one must always be aware of how the epoxy products shall be handled.

Hygiene at the workplace

Extreme cleanliness at the workplace is of the greatest importance. To make this easier, products from Nils Malmgren AB are manufactured and packaged ready for use. One of the cans in a kit generally contains both the components and mixing measure.

Ventilation at the workplace shall be as good as possible. Use special tools for epoxy work, keep them clean and do not lend them to those who do not work with epoxy.

Do not let empty cans stand without lids; dispose of them immediately in the specified container. Any spilled material is wiped up immediately before it spreads.

Do not touch door handles, faucets and similar objects with contaminated work gloves.

Work clothing

Hands, wrists, face and eyes are the most exposed. These parts of the body must be protected from contact with epoxy materials.

There is naturally a theoretic possibility to protect the entire body from contact with everything by wearing sealed plastic clothing, plastic gloves, hood, rubber boots and the like, but the risk is substantial that one would thus create other types of irritations, for example, through perspiring and difficulty of movement. The choice of suitable work clothing must therefore be judicious. To protect the torso, legs and arms, overalls are suitable articles of clothing. The legs and arms, however, must be sufficiently long, i.e. that they are long enough to cover the wrists and ankles. Overalls of the disposable type can be good for short periods of work that are hazardous from the contamination standpoint.

Gloves are available in many types and qualities. All disposable gloves are of plastic and can seldom be used continually for a longer period. It is practical to use thin 100% cotton gloves under plastic gloves.

Where there is a risk for splashing, for example, in the mixing of low-viscosity material, face guards or safety goggles should be used.

When sanding hardened epoxy plastic, carbon filter masks and dust filters of class P3 shall be used, and to a large extent, in combination with extraction.

As footwear, besides boots and high-top leather shoes, wooden clogs are also useful. The main thing is that the heel is sufficiently high that the overalls protect the ankles and heels without dragging on the floor.

It is important that contaminated work clothing is immediately changed, and contaminate and broken gloves discarded. If plastic gloves of the non-disposable type are used, these shall be cleaned on the outside before removal.

Personal hygiene

Personal hygiene is a well-documented factor when it comes to continuous handling of chemicals. Hands shall be carefully washed before meals, visits to the WC and smoking. Use soap and water or hand cleaning cream.

Solvents may never be used for cleaning hands.

Keep fingernails short and clean. Do not wear rings or wristwatches while working. Do not eat and smoke in the work area.

Do not wear work clothing in eating areas.

Use a skin cream on the hands after washing to prevent drying and cracking.

Healthy and pliant skin reduces the risk for irritations.

Transport and storage

Epoxy resins and hardeners shall be transported and stored in sealed original packaging to avoid contamination of transport vehicles and storage areas.

Hardener labelled with the so-called corrosion symbol shall be package in such a way that the requirements for the transport of hazardous goods (ADR) are complied with.

When storing, the materials shall be placed on plastic film, preferably at the location where mixing is performed. Plastic film prevents any spills from being absorbed by the substrate, for example, concrete. In the event of material spills, sawdust, wood shavings, paper, cleaning rags and similar disposable products for cleaning are recommended. Discard the removed material in trash containers for epoxy waste. Clean dustpans and the like immediately with solvent.

Measures in the event of accidents

In the event of splash in eyes, flush in running water for at least 15 minutes. At workplaces that lack running water, use eye rinse, which shall always be on hand. Seek medical care immediately, say if the material can be strongly alkalic from hardener, take product information with you.

In the event of skin injury, wash in cold water, apply a dry bandage and seek medical care.

In the event of nausea, go out into the fresh air. If the symptoms do not disappear, seek medical care.

Ames Test

To be able to know as much as possible about our products, we have performed testing according to the Ames Test for ten of our most common products, but the selection is such that all used raw materials are represented.

None of the tested products in this test indicated any mutagenic or toxic effects.

The Ames Test is an indirect method for indicating carcinogenic substances.

There is presently no test that with 100% certainty can prove if a substance causes or does not cause cancer in humans. Animal testing with a large number of laboratory animals is considered the most reliable system for proving a substance’s carcinogenic effects. These tests are, however, very costly and require extensive amounts of time to perform.

Several indirect methods have been developed for showing substances’ carcinogenic effects. One of these is the Ames Test, in which a substances’ mutagenic effects are shown using especially “designed” strains of bacteria.

There is a statistic connection between mutagenic effect and the capacity to cause cancer. Therefore, the substances that can cause mutations (hereditary changes in sets of genes) should be considered as potential cancer-causing substances. Ames has shown that there is an approximately 90% correlation between mutagenic effect and carcinogenic capacity. Correlation nearly as good is shown between the lack of mutagenic and carcinogenic effects.

Interpretation of results from Ames Test

If a substance is shown to be negative in the Ames Test, one cannot classify it as “non-carcinogenic” because one does not know exactly how cancer occurs. In the same way, one cannot with absolute certainty say that a substance with positive results in the Ames Test is carcinogenic for humans.

Positive results shall be interpreted as an indication that the substance can cause cancer in humans.

Therefore, the Ames Test shall be seen as a screening test, which at an early stage can indicate substances with a potential carcinogenic effect. To achieve further reliability, the substance should be further examined in laboratory animal testing.

MSDS

In accordance with the European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, the person who leaves a dangerous product for professional use, provide the information about the characteristics of risk and protection perspective as an employer needs to arrange the handling of the product is from the health point of view acceptable manner.

The information will be in the form of a MSDS and should be sent to the consignee at the time the delivered product are to be used.

The MSDS should be written in the users native language.

Labeling

The label should be in the users native language and have information about:

1. Tradename
2. The detailed chemical names
3. Symbols with indications of danger
4. Risk phrases or hazard statements
5. Safety phrases or precautionary statements
6. Name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer, importer or other person placing the product on the market within the EU.