Health Considerations

Increasing concern regarding health hazards of isocyanates
We decided we would endeavour to develop a foam system that was based on MDI (methylene di-phenyl di-isocyanate) rather than TDI (toluene di-isocyanate). This decision was based on the world’s increasing concern regarding both the short and long term health hazards of isocyanates in general, and TDI in particular.

The main health hazard associated with isocyanates is inhalation of vapour or aerosol, which can cause serious respiratory problems. When blowing rigid foams such as surfboard blanks, there is an additional hazard of partially-cured foam dust which becomes airborne in the demoulding process.

Safetiness of MDI foam based products
MDI is by far the least hazardous of the commonly available isocyanates, since its vapour pressure (which is an indication of how easily it evaporates) is some 2500 times less than that of TDI at ambient temperatures. This fact makes handling, storage and utilization of the chemical much safer and thereby much easier especially regarding unforeseen occurrences, such as accidental spillages.

By using MDI, we are confident that we are much less likely to cause health problems either to ourselves or to people working with our foam.

The main disadvantage of MDI is that it is considerably more expensive than TDI adding around 40% to the raw material cost. Based on a high performance lean management and productions system, we can keep cost low for MDI foam based products.