Industrial Arts Supply Co.
Technology Education Supply Co.
5724 West 36th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55416

Toll Free 888-919-0899
(952) 920-7393
Fax (952) 920-2947
E-mail: iasco@iasco-tesco.com

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR MEKP CATALYST

READ
THIS
FIRST
DISCLAIMER
The following information is intended only to inspire further research into what should be appropriate safety and emergency response procedures concerning MEKP and any other chemical for your school, shop, or place of business. MSDS on all of the chemicals we sell are provided via fax at no charge. All customers and end users of our products are urged to provide protection in the form of splash proof safety goggles, disposable gloves, aprons, information, and procedure review to everyone involved at a worksite.

HOW MEKP CATALYST WORKS
Modern Polyester Resin has been pre-promoted. The promoter in the case of laminating resin could be cobalt-13, and imparts a heavy tint to the resin. EZ Cast also has been pre-promoted, but with a colorless promoter to preserve the clarity of the casting resin. MEKP catalyst reacts with the promoter in a strong chemical reaction. Temperatures inside of thick section cures can reach up to 330F. This is with levels of catalyst and promoter at around 2% each. Before resins were pre-promoted, when you bought a gallon of resin there were two little bottles with it. One was the catalyst (as today) and one was the promoter. This was problematic, of course, when some young scientists would say, "to heck with the resin - lets just mix the little bottles together" and a chemical reaction would ensue featuring "violent decomposition and spontaneous combustion". All resins IASCO sells are pre-promoted for safety and convenience.
Shelf life on catalyst and resin is a maximum 6 months.
PLAN AHEAD FOR SAFETY.
Methyl Ethyl Keytone Peroxide is an organic oxidizing agent with active Oxygen. It is corrosive in that it breaks down, attacks, and reacts with many materials. It is an agent for change. A catalyst. It will begin to break down normal skin tissue after contact in about ninety seconds, causing redness at first, followed in some cases by blistering. The real danger of catalyst on your hand or finger or glove is the potential for transmission to other, more sensitive areas such as your eyes or face. Any amount of catalyst in or near your eye instantly becomes an emergency situation. Take careful action at once. If the catalyst is in your eye, flush with cool water instantly (and for at least 10 minutes) while someone calls your local poison control for specific situation instructions. Have POISON CONTROL AND EMERGENCY numbers posted BEFORE you choose to work with any chemicals. If the catalyst is BY your eye, make sure not to direct the contamination into your eye inadvertently. Flush the site with lots of cool water. Eventually wash the area with a mild soap and rinse again.

SAFETY TIP REVIEW
1) ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES
2) CHANGE DIRTY GLOVES OFTEN
3) AVOID CHEMICAL CONTACT WITH EYES OR SKIN
4) POST POISON CONTROL AND EMERGENCY NUMBERS BY PHONE
5) HAVE AN EMERGENCY EYEWASH STATION
6) PROVIDE EVERYONE WITH SAFETY EQUIPMENT

USING CATALYST
MEKP catalyst is sold by IASCO in a sealed, clear, plastic tube. The tube becomes a dropper by unscrewing the cap and poking a hole with a pin into the end of the bottle. Be sure to throw the pin away carefully and soon after use, as some people have the habit of putting pins in their mouth.

Measure your resin in a graduated paper cup if possible to ensure proper catalyst ratio is added. Do the math before counting. (For example: if you plan to use 12 drops of catalyst per ounce of resin and you have measured 5 ounces in the cup, your goal is 5 x 12 or 60 drops. Count the drops of catalyst. Pot life for catalyzed resin at 77F. is around 5 minutes. To avoid catalyzed resin from accidentally starting a fire in the trashcan - wait an hour before tossing cups with gelled resin into the trash.