Isocyanates are a family of highly reactive chemicals used in the production of polyurethane-based materials, including foams, coatings, adhesives, elastomers, sealants, and paints. During manufacturing, monomeric isocyanates such as MDI and TDI react to form stable polymers. Once fully cured, these materials are generally considered stable under normal use conditions.
The safety concern arises when products are exposed to heat, mechanical stress, UV radiation, or long-term aging. Under certain conditions, degradation or incomplete curing may result in the release of free isocyanate monomers or related compounds. Free isocyanates are potent respiratory sensitizers and are among the most toxic industrial chemicals in current commercial use. Even very low airborne concentrations are relevant from a product safety and liability perspective.
For manufacturers and product-safety consultants, demonstrating that a finished product does not emit detectable levels of volatile isocyanates can be a critical part of due diligence, regulatory submissions, and risk assessment documentation.
Environmental Chamber Isocyanate Emission Testing
LCS Laboratory Inc. has developed a controlled chamber test procedure to evaluate the emission of free isocyanates from finished products, components, and consumer devices.
The test article is placed inside a sealed environmental chamber for the duration of the experiment. Air within the chamber is sampled and analyzed for monomeric isocyanates using Occupational Safety and Health Administration Method 5002. The analytical method allows detection of free isocyanate monomers at concentrations as low as 0.3 ppb in air.
Testing conditions can be configured to match your project requirements:
- Ambient temperature and humidity
- Elevated temperature scenarios
- Custom environmental conditions to simulate use or worst-case exposure
Chamber Specifications
Our environmental chamber has internal dimensions of 4 ft × 4 ft × 4 ft, allowing testing of relatively large products, assembled devices, or multiple components simultaneously. The setup is suitable for:
- Polyurethane-based consumer products
- Coated or painted assemblies
- Foam-containing devices
- Heated equipment incorporating polyurethane materials
Reporting and Documentation
Results are reported as airborne concentrations of specific monomeric isocyanates detected during the test period. The data can be used to support:
- Product safety evaluations
- Internal risk assessments
- Regulatory or customer documentation
- Third-party due diligence reviews
To discuss your testing requirements or request a quotation for isocyanate emission testing, please contact LCS Laboratory Inc. by email and provide a description of your product, expected test conditions, and any applicable regulatory framework. ©
