Low VOC Resin Responses

Low VOC Resin Responses

Garth Knapp

2/11/2013

Hello List,

Sorry for the delay-

Below are the responses I received regarding low VOC resins for a patient
who is very sensitive to chemical odors of acrylic resins. I appreciate all
of your input.

We plan to try a samples of ER resin and FabTech resin, and may end up
using a copoly socket.

Thanks again-

Garth



When dealing with chemist and allergy patients, there is always the problem
of reactions. The main reason we wear nitrile or vinyl gloves is to avoid
the irritation problems. I suggest that you try thermoplastic sockets with
a thermoplastic or prepreg frame if you can. Prepreg does not seem to have
the same problems because of the way it cures. Another option would be an
epoxy frame. You might want to consult Fabtech about some socket options.
Good luck,



*************



HEllo

I like ER resin. < <URL Redacted>>
<URL Redacted>

the only odor is the part b liquid.

perhaps ask for a sample of the finished product and find out if she
likes it...

Use a copoly socket... They are fantastic

Could you pull a petg thin inner socket before lamination to keep lamination
away from the skin?

Ok, so why not thermoplastic? No resin, no odor. I use copoly and oww pin
lock and even on big people (1/4) or smaller (3/16) I have had no issues
with failures. I drape with a seam. All the best.


**************


Have you looked into prepregs? I own a small central fabrication outfit in
Florida where I focus primarily on lightweight composite fabrication. I do
know that the traditional way that we laminate, allows for more than enough
resin (too much) to saturate the textile being laminated. This, not only
adds unnecessary weight to the device, but also multiplies the amount of
resin needing to outgas. Prepregs use only the amount of resin needed to
set the textile. The process allows for any excess resin to be wicked away
while curing. This results in a part that is as strong, but much lighter.
It may, perhaps, reduce the amount of VOC's needing to outgas. I have a
message out to a supplier, and can get back to you regarding the specifics
of VOC's and prepregs.

 check with otto bock as the cured resin does not have an odor. I would
still pull petg first and then laminate over that so she has no resin in
contact with the skin or liner, inside the socket.


*****************

Skirting your question...I have made many TF thermoplastic sockets and a
couple of KD sockets over the years. Flexible Thermolyn insert, backfilled
over the femoral condyles and you normally would. You have to do a plaster
build-up on the distal end with your alignment J anchor or 4-hole plate,
whatever you are using. Dry the plaster well, then pull a blister of 12mm
or 15mm copolymer (available in tan color from Cascade). Depending on the
patient's weight and activity level, the J-anchor can be bolted to the
outside of the copoly socket and even heated up a bit to seat it well onto
the plastic. You can use T-nuts on the inside to really grab the plastic
well and distribute point loads from the four screws. Again, not
necessarily the easiest procedure, but if she can't wear her leg because of
the smell...? Also, what if you lightly bake the laminated socket in your
oven to offgass whatever is left? Just an idea.
Good luck,



**************


Go to AirZone.com and get a good quality ozone generator and put the
generator higher, like on a ladder above the socket. Put the socket in a
big container because the ozone will drop and fill up the container like
nitrogen gas. The room has to be warm for maximum effect. You could use a
negative ion generator also. We make a free flow one producing trillions
of ions per second, each with a charge of 15,000 volts. Anything in its
way gets zapped!: viruses, bacteria, odors, dust. Nothing is left but
carbon dust. All the generators have flow through design which only cleans
the air inside a chamber, which means the platinum electrodes get clogged
and you can't clean or replace them. Our design does not provide a ground
within a chamber, so the ions flow freely out into the environment seeking
their targets.

You could also soak the socket in water with lots of baking soda, then soak
with activated carbon from an aquarium store. Crush the carbon very finely
first for maximum effect. Carbon will absorb 500 times its weight in
toxins. She could also treat her body with a custom
Vitamin/Mineral/Glandualar with a TMA test, which we can perform for her.
 The catch is she is going to require 1 tablespoon or more of hair to be
able to be analyzed by the mass spectrometer. Their hair gets very thin
from the minerals being pulled out of the hair to neutralize the chemicals,
so it takes more hair. There are more body options if she wants to contact
me.
Best,


***************


Ok, so why not thermoplastic? No resin, no odor. I use copoly and oww pin
lock and even on big people (1/4) or smaller (3/16) I have had no issues
with failures. I drape with a seam. All the best.
***************



I would call Greg Mattson at Fabtech. 1800fabtech.
****************


Personally I would go with thermoplastic. Why are you preferring to stick
with resin?
*****************


Could you pull a petg thin inner socket before lamination to keep lamination
away from the skin?


******************

Have you looked into prepregs? I own a small central fabrication outfit in
Florida where I focus primarily on lightweight composite fabrication. I do
know that the traditional way that we laminate, allows for more than enough
resin (too much) to saturate the textile being laminated. This, not only
adds unnecessary weight to the device, but also multiplies the amount of
resin needing to outgas. Prepregs use only the amount of resin needed to
set the textile. The process allows for any excess resin to be wicked away
while curing. This results in a part that is as strong, but much lighter.
It may, perhaps, reduce the amount of VOC's needing to outgas. I have a
message out to a supplier, and can get back to you regarding the specifics
of VOC's and prepregs.

*******************


check with otto bock as the cured resin does not have an odor. I would
still pull petg first and then laminate over that so she has no resin in
contact with the skin or liner, inside the socket.

*****************





Hey I have a gal who puts her leg in a bag with one of those ozone air
cleaner things and she says that it really reduces the off gassing.
 Actually she has dropped one of at the office for us to use and I think
that it really works. Fab tech resin is the least smelliest that I know of
just slow to work with.



Wil



PS Loved the Christmas card!



*****************

Skirting your question...I have made many TF thermoplastic sockets and a
couple of KD sockets over the years. Flexible Thermolyn insert, backfilled
over the femoral condyles and you normally would. You have to do a plaster
build-up on the distal end with your alignment J anchor or 4-hole plate,
whatever you are using. Dry the plaster well, then pull a blister of 12mm
or 15mm copolymer (available in tan color from Cascade). Depending on the
patient's weight and activity level, the J-anchor can be bolted to the
outside of the copoly socket and even heated up a bit to seat it well onto
the plastic. You can use T-nuts on the inside to really grab the plastic
well and distribute point loads from the four screws. Again, not
necessarily the easiest procedure, but if she can't wear her leg because of
the smell...? Also, what if you lightly bake the laminated socket in your
oven to offgass whatever is left? Just an idea.
Good luck,

*******************


It sounds psychological.