Can Tyvek® garments be used for paint spraying applications?
Yes, testing on isocyanate spray paint systems show that Tyvek® can be used with isocyanate-based paints, under proper conditions. Garments made of Tyvek® are not appropriate in spray applications if they become soaked with overspray and back splatter. The well-designed spray booth should not result in excessive over-spray and back-splatter. Some two-part, isocyanate-based, spray paints contain hexamethylene diisocyante (HMDI) and aliphatic isocyanate oligomers. In many isocyanate paint formations, there is less than 0.1% free HMDI present in the hardener component of the paint formulation which quickly reacts upon mixing with the other component. The aliphatic isocyanate oligomers have low vapor pressure and are present as an aerosol during spraying.
