Aniline dyes for wood veneers

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap Senior Member Username: lgoodrob Post Number: 212 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 10:13 am:    For the first time in many years, I have an Architect asking for aniline dyed wood veneers. Is this product class safe for the environment? Aniline is on the Cal Prop 65 list as a known carcinogen. Is there actually aniline in aniline dyes? Or is this just what designers call it? - J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 544 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 10:55 am:    I did quite a bit of research on this a few years ago. The analine dyes are generally water-based and are used in smaller pieces. Most often you see them in guitars since the colors can be quite deep and vibrant (think blues and reds). These can be purchased on the open market in smaller quantities. When I wanted to get a pew manufacturer to do it, he said that they might be able to do it for one or two pieces as custom work, but for production quantites, they would have to take a production finish line out of service, convert it to analine, and then back again. This was not going to be feasible so we were able to talk the designer out of it. You need to talk to the shop where the dyes would be applied. It may be possible to get it done (they might even be available as a "stock" item for veneer flitches), but I doubt that you will be able to get a shop to switch a line to this type of finish unless there is a very, very large quantity involved. This is not something you would do in the field so I am not sure that its being a carcinogen would be a problem. Analine dyes were some of the first products synthesized from coal tar in the last half of the 19th century. The dyes offered a broader range of colors and were longer lasting than the vegetable/mineral dyes they replaced. One of the first colors was mauve. Their development was the initial step in developing the petrochemical industry, diversifying it from fuels and waterproofing products. anon (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 04:33 pm:    Aspirin, unleaded gasoline, and oral contraceptives are also listed in CAL PROP 65. So, if going by the logic that anything on the list should be avoided at all costs, we'd all be devout Catholics walking everywhere with splitting headaches. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 476 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 05:11 pm:    Is this going to regress back to our earlier discussion about carbon-based, alcohol-infused life forms not meeting Code? I don't believe I've ever had to specify aspirin or oral contraceptives in a Project Manual though I have specified that the Contractor was responsible for maintaining a supply of ibuprofen in field offices along with coffee and other harmful chemicals. I'd be curious to know what types of projects our Unregistered Guest is working on. anon (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 05:22 pm:    How about wood? Ever specified wood? Wood has formaldehyde - which is listed in CA Prop 65. Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap Senior Member Username: lgoodrob Post Number: 216 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 09:58 am:    Peter, Thank you for sharing your research. I'm interested in expanding my knowledge of construction chemicals. I know that aniline dye was originally a coal tar derivative, but I wonder what they are made from now. The Architect has a source for factory dyed veneers, so the field applied aspect is not really an issue, but I'll ask how they plan to match the solid stock trim components. - ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 478 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 01:55 pm:    After a brief chat with some resources I heard suggestions that, in the event wood dyes are used in an area with windows or other means for sunlight to infiltrate an area, you should consider a urethane clear coat with UV inhibitors unless gray is ultimately the color you are looking for. I was also reminded that inhibitors do just that. Gray may ultimately be what you end up with over time anyway. I don't know how much time it buys.