‘Nickel Allergy’ arising from decorative nickel plated and alloyed articles: prevention at source

This work builds on papers published in Transactions during 2015 and 2018 reporting research into low-cost commercial methods for the prevention of nickel release from decorative nickel plated articles, rendering them suitable for placement on the European market in accordance with the requirements of REACH. ‘Nickel Allergy’ sometimes occurs when nickel-containing articles are in direct and prolonged contact with the skin, leading to corrosion of elemental nickel by sweat, liberating sufficient nickel ions to be absorbed through the skin and initiate an allergenic effect. The EU ‘Nickel Restrictions’ impose limits on the amount of nickel released from articles intended for use in this application, but permits a non-nickel surface coating that can ensure the rate of nickel release does not exceed 0.5?µg?cm^?2 week^?1 after 2 years of normal use. The official tests for coated items are simulated wear and corrosion under EN 12472 followed by determination of nickel release under EN 1811. Earlier work concluded that suitable barrier coatings over bright electrodeposited nickel are regular chromium deposited from a hexavalent electrolyte, microporous trivalent chromium from a chloride electrolyte and UV cured PU electrophoretic coatings. Further tests reported here focused on nickel release from examples of wearable articles such as costume jewellery and watch cases. A typical flash coating of gold over bright nickel is thin and porous and being more noble, causes the rate of nickel release to be accelerated; but this can be prevented by an intermediate barrier coating of electrodeposited palladium. To round out the relevance of this study on wearable articles, nickel release tests were also conducted on nickel-containing Grades 304 (UNS S30400) and 316 (UNS S31600) austenitic stainless steels, plus a typical gold alloy containing nickel. All passed the nickel release tests satisfactorily.     

Impacts of environmental product legislation on solid oxide fuel cells

Ongoing development of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology coincides with a rapid increase in legislation aiming to control the environmental impacts of products across their life cycle. A risk-based method is used to explore the potential future impacts of this body of legislation on the technology. Legislation controlling the use of hazardous materials is one area of significance. Under the new European REACH Regulation some nickel compounds, used widely throughout general industry but also in the fabrication of anode structures, may fall under the classification of a substance of very high concern (SVHC) in future, which presents a risk of restrictions being placed on their continued use. This risk must drive the development of alternative anode materials, or requires the SOFC industry to identify a socio-economic argument justifying exemption from any future restrictions. A legislative trend establishing recycling requirements for end-of-life products is also identified as having a potential future impact on the technology. Recycling strategies for SOFC products must be considered, prior to commercialisation. It is proposed that failure to meet these future environmental requirements may be detrimental to the perception of SOFC technology, the demand for which is substantially driven by the environmental benefits offered over incumbent power generation technologies. The consideration of these issues in the design of commercial products will mitigate this risk.     

符合REACH法规的环保型轮胎橡胶填充油

论述了欧盟REACH法规对橡胶填充油中多环芳烃的限制,介绍了环保型轮胎橡胶填充油的要求及克拉玛依石化公司开发的环保型轮胎橡胶填充油的性质与应用试验结果,认为采用克拉玛依稠油的重质馏分油可以制备出符合欧盟REACH法规要求的环保型轮胎橡胶填充油,以用于制备非污染的环保型充油橡胶产品。     

欧盟REACH法规的研究及其应对策略

欧盟REACH法规是涵盖了化学品生产、贸易和使用安全的综合性法规,是迄今为止关于化学品管理最为复杂的法规,在全球范围内备受关注,被认为是中国入世以来面临的最为复杂的技术贸易壁垒。主要阐述了法规出台、注册时间和成本构成,对上海化学品企业以及华谊集团进出口贸易成本增加的影响,提出了具体的应对欧盟REACH法规的策略和建议。REACH法规是产品进入欧盟市场的通行证,上海企业只有积极应对,才能保证对欧贸易的畅通无阻。     

高度关注物质及其毒性，用途与影响（一）

REACH法规被列入附件14的物质称为高度关注,未经授权不得在欧洲销售和使用。截止2010年3月8日,分三批公布了38种高度物质。文章将这些化学物质分成四大类,就其毒性、应用范围及影响作了详细解读,希望有关行业注意这些物质的应用。     

REACH法规对出口印染产品的影响

欧盟REACH法规对印染产品的管控主要体现在限制危险物质和通报高度关注物质(SVHC)两个方面.危险物质清单来源于76/769EC欧盟指令,高度关注物质清单则由欧洲化学品管理局(ECHA)分期分批公布.印染产品极少需要进行注册,授权不适用于中国印染产品,国内印染企业在生产出口欧盟产品时,应继续遵守限制物质的要求,避免产品中含有SVHC.     

纺织品风险预警机制的探讨

介绍了欧盟REACH法规、美国CPSIA法规、Oeko-Tex Standard 100标准等国外有关产品安全法规及标准,比较了我国纺织品标准法规制定的发展现状及其与国外标准的差距,分析了制定纺织品风险预警机制的必要性。     

溴系阻燃剂的50年

综述了溴系阻燃剂（BFR）的发展历程,重点讨论了近20年来发生的与BFR密切相关的一些重大事件,包括二噁英问题,欧盟对BFR的危害性评估（主要是十溴二苯醚（DBDPO）、四溴双酚A（TBBPA）和六溴环十二烷（HBCD）最新评估结果）,与BFR有关的环保法规（RoHS指令及REACH）,RoHS指令对DBDPO的豁免及此豁免的被否决,RoHS指令的修订等）,可能会影响BFR的有关新阻燃标准,如欧盟将在建材行业实行的统一阻燃分类方法和测试标准及中国的强制性国家标准GB 20286-2006,阻燃剂的无卤化等。分析了使用BFR的安全性及对BFR应采取的减排和监控措施（如VECAP）,并展望了BFR的发展前景。     

日化行业应对REACH法规

总结了欧盟REACH的预注册情况,论述了全球企业、中国洗涤剂、化妆品以及香料香精企业如何应对REACH法规。并介绍了欧盟REACH法规的最新进展情况。