A new restriction on diisocyanates was adopted by the European authorities under REACH on August 4, 2020, targeting respiratory and dermal sensitization potentially caused by diisocyanates. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is a regulation of the European Union, created to improve the protection of human health and the environment from risks that chemicals can pose, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.
Polyurethane (PU) adhesives and sealants are safe for use in numerous products in a multitude of industries, such as automotive, furniture, construction, and packaging. The production of polyurethanes requires aromatic or aliphatic diisocyanates. These are safe when used in accordance with established safety measures. In the PU production process, the diisocyanates, reacting with polyols are in fact used up so that they do not exist in the finished polyurethane products. The restriction does not ban the use of polyurethane adhesives and sealants, but establishes training requirements for their safe use. PU adhesives and sealants will therefore continue to be widely used because of their versatility in a variety of applications and as there are no other technologies existing that can produce products with all the properties that PU has.