REACH - Applications for authorisation documents AFA054-02 - OPEO

Overview

Public consultation on alternatives

Reference: AFA054-02

Applicant: PPG Industries (UK) Ltd.

Application type: Review Report

Substance name: 4-(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl) phenol, ethoxylated (OPE)

Proposed use: Mixing, by Airbus and their associated supply chains, including the Applicant, of base polysulfide sealant components with OPE-containing hardener, resulting in mixtures containing < 0.1% w/w of OPE for Aerospace uses that are exempt from authorisation under REACH Art. 56(6)(a)

Broad information on use applied for (conditions of use and function):

Polysulfide sealants in the scope of this AfA comprise a base and a hardener component.  Only the hardener component contains very low concentrations (0.5%) of OPE. This use covers the mixing of the base and the hardener components. Once mixed, the concentration of OPE in the sealant is always less than 0.1% w/w, so the mixed sealant is exempt from authorisation.

These polysulfide sealants are used to deliver specific safety functions in production, maintenance and repair within the aerospace industry in accordance with the requirements of airworthiness regulations or applicable aerospace requirements, uses include, but are not limited to,

• Sealing structures/components to:
   
  • keep moisture or other fluids out (to prevent corrosion or attack of structures/components),
  • keep fluids in (e.g. fuel, hydraulic fluids, etc.)
  • prevent airflow to maintain cabin pressure
• Isolating components to separate dissimilar substrates/metals to prevent corrosion and/or provide thermal/ electrical insulation
• Filling gaps to create an aerodynamic surface (aero faring/aero smoothing) and eliminate moisture accumulation or traps
• Provide adhesion in engines and nacelles, when flexibility at extreme temperatures and compatibility with mating gap filler is required; bonding structures requiring flexibility; and bonding/sealing of wires
• Electrical potting in connectors, circuit boards etc

They are used in a range of applications including fuel tanks (to prevent leakage), window sealing (ensuring air tightness and pressurisation of passenger cabins), actuators, electronic controller connections, gyros, wiper blade systems, propeller blades, ball screws for actuators, flight control rudder pedals, joint sealing of general aircraft structures during assembly process, to assemble structures, etc. They can also fulfil some adhesive and aircraft coating functions.

The unique properties of this category of sealants include, but are not limited to:

• Resistance to degradation by fuel and other chemicals
• Flexibility over a wide range of temperatures, most uniquely extreme cold
• Adhesion to a wide range of substances
• Ability to stress-relax, thereby maintaining adhesion to expanding and contracting substrates
• Compatibility with a wide range of paint and primer systems

List of descriptors:

• Sector of end use (SU): 0: other: Aerospace and Defence
• Environmental release category (ERC): 6b
• Process category (PROC): NA
• Product category (PC): 1 [Adhesives, sealants]
• Article category related to subsequent service life (AC): N/A
• Technical Function: Dispersant

Annual tonnage used: <1 tonne/year

Review period requested: 4 years

How to submit comments

Provide some basic information on possible alternative(s) in the online survey below but more detailed information should be provided in document(s) prepared using the commenting templates in the related section below. A “public version” should always be completed and will be published after the consultation has closed. If you want to include confidential information in your submission, please additionally complete a “confidential version” and submit both versions as attachments.

The consultation lasts for 8 weeks (unless otherwise specified) and closes at 23:59 London time (BST).