Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

TALL OIL/ POLYETHYLENEPOLYAMIDES

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Epoxy hardener.

SYNONYMS

"fatty acids, tall oil, reaction products with polyethylene polyamines, compounds with
C18-unsaturated fatty acid dimers and tall oil fatty acids", Epicure, 3010

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Causes burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  The material can produce chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  Ingestion may result in nausea, abdominal irritation, pain and vomiting.  Ingestion of amine epoxy-curing agents (hardeners) may cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. The vomitus may contain blood and mucous. If death does not occur within 24 hours there may be an improvement in the patients condition for 2-4 days only to be followed by the sudden onset of abdominal pain, boardlike abdominal rigidity or hypo- tension; this indicates that delayed gastric or esophageal corrosive damage has occurred.  

EYE

  The material can produce chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  Vapors of volatile amines irritate the eyes, causing excessive secretion of tears, inflammation of the conjunctiva and slight swelling of the cornea, resulting in "halos" around lights. This effect is temporary, lasting only for a few hours. However this condition can reduce the efficiency of undertaking skilled tasks, such as driving a car. Direct eye contact with liquid volatile amines may produce eye damage, permanent for the lighter species.  The material may produce moderate eye irritation leading to inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  The material can produce chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition.  Amine epoxy-curing agents (hardeners) may produce primary skin irritation and sensitization dermatitis in predisposed individuals. Cutaneous reactions include erythema,  intolerable itching and severe facial swelling. Blistering, with weeping of serous fluid, and crusting and scaling may also occur. Individuals exhibiting "amine dermatitis" may experience a dramatic reaction upon re-exposure to minute quantities. Highly sensitive persons may even react to cured resins containing trace amounts of unreacted amine hardener. Minute quantities of air-borne amine may precipitate intense dermatological symptoms in sensitive individuals. Prolonged or repeated exposure may produce tissue necrosis.  

INHALED

  Inhalation may produce health damage*.  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Inhalation of vapor is more likely at higher than normal temperatures.  Inhalation of vapor may result in nausea, headache.  Inhalation of vapor may aggravate a pre-existing respiratory condition such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema.  Inhalation of amine vapors may cause irritation of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, and lung irritation with respiratory distress and cough. Swelling and inflammation of the respiratory tract is seen in serious cases; with headache, nausea, faintness and anxiety There may also be wheezing.  Inhalation of epoxy resin amine hardeners (including polyamines and amine adducts) and may produce bronchospasm and coughing episodes lasting several days after cessation of the exposure. Even faint traces of these vapors may trigger an intense reaction in individuals showing "amine asthma". The literature records several instances of systemic intoxications following the use of amines in epoxy resin systems.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There is some evidence that inhaling this product is more likely to cause a sensitization reaction in some persons compared to the general population.  

  Primary route of exposure is usually by skin contact/eye contact with the material and inhalation of vapor from the curing material.  Polyamide hardeners have much reduced volatility, toxicity and are much less irritating to the skin and eyes than amine hardeners. However commercial polyamides may contain a percentage of residual unreacted amine and all unnecessary contact should be avoided.  Sensitization may result in allergic dermatitis responses includingrash, itching, hives or swelling of extremities.  Sensitization may give severe responses to very low levels of exposure, i.e. hypersensitivity. Sensitized persons should not be allowed to work in situations where exposure may occur.