Angsvagen, Sweden – Polyurethane cast parts and rollers manufacturer Elastolan has replaced the curative MbOCA with Chemtura’s Adiprene well before its REACH sunset date in 2017.
As UTECH-polyurethane has reported previously, under the EU’s REACH chemical safety regulations the use of MbOCA (also known as MOCA) will be prohibited within EU companies beyond November 2017.
Elastolan owner and ceo Ronnie Smahl said he had previously decided to quit MbOCA, independent of any regulations, adding that “we had to get permission every third year from the government to be able to handle it.”
“The problem was finding a good replacement material that could cover every product Elastolan made, from the smallest to the biggest part,” said Smahl.
“When we processed MbOCA we already had a low free TDI, so it was natural for us to have an MDI low-free monomer as well."
One way to go, he said, was to keep the low free TDI and just change the curative for example. But, depending on the application, their properties aren’t always good enough.
“Choosing a low free system in MDI feels like the right way to go, to meet the future in Europe.”
A benefit of Adiprene is that it can be mixed with the catalyst to decrease the demoulding time, Smahl added.
“It does not affect the properties of the material, so that is really fantastic we think”, said sales and production manager Robin Nord.
Elastolan have been processing low free MDI for more than two years and said Smahl: “We have less abrasion and less setting problems and these type of properties are much better than with the earlier TDI/MbOCA system."
Elastolan have been processing Low Free MDI for more than two years. “We have less abrasion and less setting problems and these type of properties are much better than with the earlier TDI/MbOCA system,” he concluded.
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