WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 30, 2011) – The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) has released updated guidelines on the use of amine catalysts in polyurethane foam manufacturing. The guidelines are intended for polyurethane producers, workers and supervisory personnel who use amine catalysts to create polyurethane foam with particular properties and characteristics. Amine catalysts are used to control both the gelling reaction and the reaction responsible for foam formation.
“One of CPI’s core missions is to provide helpful product stewardship information to manufacturers and others who use the chemistries that make polyurethanes. Amine catalysts are an important ingredient in many polyurethane manufacturing processes, and we want all businesses using this chemistry to be aware of the handling and safety considerations for them,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI.
The guidelines document, “Polyurethane Amine Catalysts: Safe Handing Guidelines,” is available under the “Free Resources” section of www.polyurethane.org. It features information on what users of amine catalysts should consider, including the following: potential health effects of amine catalysts, exposure guidelines, methods for exposure control, personal protective equipment, exposure monitoring, spills, emergency response and disposal. A Spanish-language version of the guidelines will be available in the future.