Introduction Isocyanates are widely used and found in many industries and occupations, including painting, construction, shipbuilding, upholstery manufacturing and firefighting. Isocyanates have been used in the United States since the late 1940s. They are produced by reacting a primary aliphatic or aromatic amine dissolved in a solvent such as xylene or monochlorobenzene with phosgene dissolved in the same solution. This exothermic reaction forms polyurethane. This polyurethane is then used in the production of rigid or flexible foams, surface coatings, paints, electrical wire insulation, adhesives, rubbers and fibers. The most common forms of isocyanates are toluene diisocyanate (TDI), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and […]