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Fibreglass: The New Asbestos
Posted by Stu Nettle on July 12, 2008
Been thinking a bit about surfboards and the materials we use to make them lately. I got to thinking when I heard it mentioned that Tajs’ win at Bells last year was the first ever WCT victory on a non-polyester resin board. Hmmmm…a small piece of history? Or the portent to something more significant?
Since Clark Foam closed down at the end of 2005 there has been a massive amount of experimentation with alternative materials & constructions. I was wondering if the industry was looking for a genuine replacement for foam and polyester resin, or the time was right for a bit of experimentation till the next big blank manufacturer got up and running and started providing them at reasonable prices again.
- Clark Foam Moulds Being Demolished
Thing is, Clark Foam closed down cause of continual pressure from environmental agencies in the US. I’ve also heard the he shut the doors because he realised the environmental damage caused by his product. Regardless of whether the decision was personal or due to external pressure, the source of it was environmental concerns.
More and more the deleterious effects of traditional foam and fibreglass are being recognised. Whether it is the physiological effects on board makers, or the time it takes the boards to break down in landfills, it seems to me that fibreglass is being seen as the new asbestos. I can foresee the day when there will be similar OH & S regulations for working with fibreglass as there is for asbestos removal now. I have a friend that works in shipbuilding that shares the thought. He has seen the laissez-faire attitude in his industry change to one of heavy regulation, training and tickets.
Another aspect worth considering is the combination of a widely used material that manufacturers know is harmful in an increasingly litigious society. Just add lawyers and stir.
Back to Taj’s board: Firewire and some epoxies have benefits over traditional foam in that the materials will breakdown quicker (only marginally so), but the big benefit is at the manufacturing end. They’re not as toxic to the people making them. That fact, as much as anything, will I think spell the end of the rule for foam and polyester. It won’t happen soon, but it will happen (as the marketing jingle goes).
- Taj Winning The First WCT Competition On A Non PU Surfboard
I don’t know which technology will win out and replace foam & fibreglass as the dominant material. If any, it may be that the era of homogenous board production is over and that many techniques become viable. However, I predict that foam and fibreglass will survive and fill a niche similar to that of vinyl records in the music industry: harbouring a cottage industry and sought out by performance purists, crazy collectors and tragic nostalgics.
My shipbuilding buddy that I mentioned earlier sold a board on eBay recently. It was a classic 60’s Keyo longboard and he got over $3000 for it. My bit of advice is, bugger the sharemarket, or speculating on the futures exchange, get yourself to a famous shaper and get a foam and fibreglass model typical of our era. Don’t ride it! Don’t even wax it up! Put it under the house, in the shed, or in storage, because in 20 - 30 years, when foam and fibreglass are a rarity, one of those suckers will be worth a mint.
July 21, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I see what you are saying here, but a layer of fiberglass (glassed with epoxy resin) is used on Firewires. Epoxy can be pretty harmful to some people, causing major allergic reactions (blisters, swollen throat) so the proper gear like gloves, suit and mask are required to work with it. Fiberglass itself isn’t that harmful but can make you itchy and the dust requires a good mask.
There are good environmental advancements in poly foam too. Bio-Foam and Ice-9 (sugar based) are coming along. The new polyester resins are way under the air pollution requirements. There is a lot of good things happening with traditional handshaped surfboards so don’t count them out yet.
thanks,
JP
July 26, 2008 at 7:21 am
I think there was a push by some in the epoxy manufacturing industry promoting the virtues of epoxy over poly from a oh&s point of view. I agree that epoxy releases far less VOC’s than poly. But the push toward epoxy being far less harmful than poly has been over exagerated in my opinion. Just because it has less odor does not mean there is no vapor being released into the work inviroment.I have been working in the composite industry for close to 30 years. Working with both epoxy and poly.I have seen more people react to epoxy than poly. As JP says some of the side efects are pretty bad and can remain with you for ever. I know people who can not go near epoxy with out reacting to it. The worst reacton I’ve seen to poly is headaches and dissyness. This is not to say prolonged exposure to poly is not harmful. Both poly and epoxy boards use fibreglass in the laminate. I think if one chooses to work with these materials, personal protective equipment must be worn and regular medical checkups should be taken. I do this and my health is still good.
July 27, 2008 at 11:36 am
Thanks for taking the time to reply JP and Platty,
Of all the ‘alternative’ materials currently being used epoxy seems to be the most popular. This, I believe, is because production is very similar to standard boards. Same tools, similar materials, similar technology. There is no outlay in R&D or new production machines. The jump isn’t that far.
However, as both of you have said, epoxy has it’s own attendant problems.
My post involved a fair bit of speculation as to what will happen if the environmental pressures placed on Gordon Clark continued through the industry. At one end we will get completely new, green materials coming onto the market and at the other end the traditional materials and production will continue, but using more sound methods. Examples of both are already apparent. Boards can now be made from balsa and hempcloth, redwood or even recycled cardboard. On the other side, vapour collection units, dustbags and, as JP mentioned ‘green’ poly foam, are the methods being used to clean up the traditional board factories.
Despite what I said in the post, if traditional surfboard manufacture continues cleaning up the way it has in the last 5 years then yeah, it will survive. But it will have to continue developing less harmful materials. I’m adamant that environmental pressures may be too much to bear if toxic materials are continued with.
For what it’s worth….my whole quiver is standard PU. I think it always will be.
And I still listen to vinyl to.