Fight the foam A bit of chemistry for a change
Every surfer knows that Clark Foam, the world’s leading supplier of surfboard blanks, went out of business last year. As it turns out, a bizarre smattering of numerals and vowels known as 2,4 Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) was largely responsible for its closure. But what do we really know about TDI?
For starters, TDI is the catalyst used to make the polyurethane foam blanks that sit inside most fibreglass surfboards the world over. The thing is a liquid, ranging in colour from clear through yellow to almost black. It has a pungent odour and is most commonly used in the production of polyurethane foams and coatings.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cites that exposure to high levels of TDI via inhalation results in severe irritation of the skin, eyes and nose, and causes nausea and vomiting. In addition, a report filed by the Air Toxicology and Epidemiology Section of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment refers to “TDI induced tumors” in lab experiments carried out on mice and rats.
So how will TDI and its health implications affect surfers? Sean Smith, executive director of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, says that alternative materials (epoxy, advanced composites, etc.) are likely to become increasingly available. Says Smith: “Ultimately, the consumer will begin to see a larger variety of boards, and technology will finally allow greater experimentation for stronger, lighter and better boards.”
This story originally appeared in Huck #002.
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