For Your Safety, Minimum Monomer!

Polyurethane is one of the polymer materials that gradually enables varnishes to be adapted separately to meet diverse application requirements across all sectors.

Only polyurethane can guarantee such versatility to obtain materials in a range varying from highly elastic and flexible products for the leather sector to very rigid products suitable for industrial use, complying with mechanical properties. Sapici, one of the leading manufacturers in this sector, has always focused on technological innovation for its development aimed not only at increasing production volumes but also at achieving product quality standards. Of course, product quality means the ability to meet new market demands, but on the other hand it also means taking into account the health of operators working in the field of industrial transformation. In daily application, SAPICI has done its best over time to reduce the amount of free monomer and thanks to technologies it has developed, today it is the only company that can offer products with TDI, MDI and HDI content below 0.1%. This goal not only demonstrates the importance of continuously and carefully monitoring regulatory changes and going beyond legal requirements, but also makes it possible to provide formula manufacturers with less hazardous products, such as varnishes with low hazard impact labels. This characteristic guarantees safer products and also becomes an attractive headline for a market increasingly interested in environmentally friendly products. Let us examine legal regulations in more detail: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is the driving force behind the authorities implementing the European Union's revolutionary legislation on chemicals, which is important for human health and environmental protection as well as for innovation and competitiveness. ECHA determines all regulatory risk management needs across the EU and works together with the European Commission and EU Member States for the safety of human health and the environment.

Member States or ECHA (at the Commission's request) initiate the process for identifying substances of very high concern and restrictions, and industry may submit authorization applications. The process of harmonized classification and labeling of substances may be initiated by Member States, manufacturers, importers or downstream users.

The purpose of the Candidate List (Registry of Intentions [RoI]) is to ensure that relevant parties are informed of substances for which it is planned to submit a CLH, SVHC or restriction file. ECHA expects all members to participate in the different opinion exchange stages of authorization, restriction or harmonized classification and labeling processes. Germany submitted a file to ECHA aiming to further restrict the use of diisocyanates in Europe (October 2016). The scope of the restriction is summarized as follows: Diisocyanates shall not be used as substances on their own, as components of other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use, except in the following cases: a) The cumulative concentration of diisocyanate in the substance or mixture is less than 0.1% by weight or b) The substance or mixture as supplied to the user, including the combination of said substance or mixture, its packaging and any application aid, shall be placed on the market in accordance with paragraph 2b) or c) Pursuant to the provisions set out in Annex 13 [1] (Training and Measures), the employer or self-employed person ensures that measures and training are carried out before use of the substances or mixtures.

Member States may apply or continue to apply their own provisions in relation to the application of these substances and mixtures, provided that the minimum requirements set out in the Annex entitled Training and Measures are met.

The employer or self-employed person shall document compliance with the conditions of Annex 13 (Training and Measures). Evidence of successful completion of training in accordance with Annex 13 (Training and Measures) shall be recognized in all other Member States. Manufacturers and importers of diisocyanates on their own or as components in other substances and importers of mixtures containing diisocyanates shall, before the substance or mixture is placed on the market, prepare a set of training materials in accordance with the provisions of Annex 13 (Training and Measures) in the official language of the Member State in which the substance or mixture is to be placed on the market. They shall ensure that training courses based on the training material are offered to buyers of said substances or mixtures. After a maximum period of 8 years or without delay when new information emerges that may affect risk management measures, they shall review and update the training material accordingly and inform buyers accordingly. All legal and natural persons formulating mixtures containing diisocyanates in the EU shall provide the necessary information requested by substance suppliers for the preparation of training material. End-users may be consulted for the preparation and updating of training material. SAPICI welcomes the continuous and strong interest of European and global legislative bodies in the investments and results achieved by relevant, sensitive and capable companies in terms of Environment, Health and Safety-focused innovation, which they promote and direct for the protection and preservation of human health and the environment. These results are always measured and expressed based on resources devoted to the use of "environmentally friendly/more environmentally friendly" raw materials, technologies and production standards, and subsequently the commercialization of competitive and technology-intensive products and solutions complying with the strictest international laws, regulations and standards.

At the same time, SAPICI believes that for any standard PU application where formulations below 0.1% have not yet been developed, the market should be allowed to use existing products, always complying with current laws, regulations and best practices.

Since 2004, SAPICI's customers have known that the company has developed, manufactured and marketed truly advanced polyurethane products and solutions that even comply with additional restrictions proposed in the Germany File sent to ECHA. Thirteen years ago, SAPICI was the first in the world to launch aromatic isocyanates with ultra-low free monomer content (below 0.1%) which represented a turning point in the paints and adhesives sectors and still serves as a reference comparison tool in the market. If these restrictions proceed through ongoing public consultations (ending in September 2017 after six months) and are implemented, it means that for SAPICI's customers already using ultra-low free monomer products, there will be no changes either in terms of product supply or linear pricing.

With regard to labeling, SAPICI's innovative and sustainable Aromatic (both MDI and TDI-based)

Aliphatic and Hybrid Aromatic/Aliphatic Polurgreen ultra-low free monomer (<0.1%) isocyanate product series already enables customers to reduce the Hazard Pictograms and Statements of their own products from "danger" to "warning". By not using the Serious Health Hazard Pictogram, it immediately demonstrates reduced potential risk for final products. Such advantages would not be possible with other SAPICI products containing >0.5% free monomer concentration. SAPICI's ultra-low free monomer (<0.1%) Polurgreen product series includes, for example, the following: AD 01, HR 01, OK 01, FP 75 01, MT 100 01, MT 90 01, MT 100 LV 01, MT 100 LLV 01, MT 75 01, 6050, and many others. SAPICI wishes to assure its customers that the company does not plan to discontinue production of its standard polyurethane product range. While fully supporting, maintaining and implementing the strictest standards for human health and environmental protection and conservation, SAPICI recommends that the parameters, methods and values for the assessment and circulation of chemical products in Europe should not impair the European chemical industry's permission to operate and its capacity to develop and provide polyurethane-based customized solutions to its customers. Restrictions should also not affect the international competitiveness of European industry. SAPICI is confident that further decisions on the use and circulation of chemical substances in Europe will be taken by ECHA, including but not limited to the relevant file submitted by Germany that further restricts the use of diisocyanates in Europe, taking into account the progressive and continuous improvements demonstrated and maintained by companies in the industry through their commitment and the results achieved.

We do not expect any change in formulation due to legal regulation. We conduct numerous tests comparing Polurgreen 0.1 with conventional products to verify all properties related to curing and application time, and there is no evidence indicating any difference.

We check chemical and mechanical resistance and all performance is at the highest level as always. Of course, appearance and finish are serious concerns for the polyurethane coatings sector, which is why achieving the desired result and gloss remains important. On this point, we can guarantee that a varnish already on the market can be replaced 1:1 in terms of formulation by using Polurgreen 0.1 instead of conventional products. In the end, there is one major advantage: lower hazard marking on the label and a safer product! Mauro Usai - Assistant Technical Manager and Project Leader S.A.P.I.C.I. SpA Özgür Örnek - Sales and Business Development Manager - Luma Kimya San. ve Tic. A.Ş.