Looking for specific info on kydex/concealex....

D

doggyknife

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
Messages
259
I was talking with a friend recently about the benefits/problems of kydex/concealex sheaths. He mentioned that for health reasons, he refused to use kydex/concealex sheaths with knives that touched food. We both agreed that touching food with kydex/concealex didn't pose any health problems. However, he insisted that ingesting the plastic flakes transferred from the sheath, to the knife, and to the food would be detrimental to one's health. He specifically cited the PVC component of the kydex's/concealex's composition as carcinogenic when ingested. (I definitely know PVC and its production and break-down products can be very nasty stuff).

Now I normally just wipe the kydex/concealex scrapings off my knife before I cut an apple or salami or whatever, and I feel that this enough regardless of whether or not there is a heath danger (even with some of the miniscule plastic turds still on the blade). But my friend insists that the left-over plastic is still very bad for you. I believe that regardless of whether or not kydex/concealex is toxic when ingested, the amount is so small after wiping, that it doesn't pose any type of heath problem. I'm not a chemist, but I guessed that the combination of acrylic and PVC might even change the hazardous characteristics of the two components to make the overall composition chemically inert. We have yet to convince each other either way.

I tend to believe that since kydex/concealex has been used in knife sheaths for decades and since we can't find a MSDS on the materials, that eating bits of kydex/concealex won't harm you. My friend, however, won't budge in his belief that eating food cut with a knife held in a kydex/sheath is like eating a bowl full of toxic death.

I guess I'm looking for any type of data regarding kydex/concealex's chemical structure, reactivity, effects on human health, etc...so we can figure out just how "toxic" the stuff is. Official reports/studies from govt. or medical studies (if there are any out there at all) would be nice, but I would like to get the opinions of folks here in the forum as well.

Thanks in advance.

Felix
 
I have the official docs. from GE regaurding Kydex but am too lazy to go digging right now. But in a nut shell. Kydex is approved for food use by the FDA. It is used in food prep areas, in Hospital clean rooms, in vending machines, and many other food related areas.

The most toxic thing about Kydex is the gas it releases starting at about 490 degF. At that temp it produces hydrocloric gas vapors, which are highly toxic. But that is the only hazard listed in the data sheets.

Just from simple logic (now I could be off base), I do not believe that the human body could break down Kydex enough to release any toxins. I base this on the fact that it is completely unaffected by long term exsposure to caustic acids. It is unaffected by hydrocloric acid. And considering that our own castric acid is basically the same as hydrocloric, I would surmise that the small Kydex particals would pass harmlessly through your system.
 
Hey Guys....

I'm going to have to strongly stand behind RW on this one...

If the blade is wiped before anything is cut with it,,there won't be a problem...

I'm wondering if he would much rather use a leather sheath for this purpose ??

Ever wonder what chemicals are used to tan leather ???
Ever wonder where the leather comes from on some production knives??
Ever wonder what kind of standards these countries have??

Did you know that Anthrax has been found on some imported leather goods ??

Think about it..:)

I suggest you get your buddy some NBC (Nuke/Biological/Chemical) gear, resperator/gloves/tyvek suit and a Pur water filter so he won't injest any chemicals as he goes about his daily life..:)

Actually we'll all chip in and buy him a bubble to live in..:)

I'm pretty sure if you wipe your blade,,you'll be just fine..:)

Interesting though...HeHe..

ttyle

Eric...
 
I can usually win the arguments when it's the kydex vs. leather. I just keep reminding him of all the nasty chemicals that we KNOW are needed to turn a cow's hide into a leather sheath and that they still haven't figured out how MAD COW (BSE) is exactly spread...heh-heh-heh....:p He still prefers the leather sheaths though - kind of an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality.

BTW - Normark, I might be sending some work your way soon. I was a dumba$$ and left the kydex sheath for my new Strider by the heater last night...uugh. I played with it for a while with a hair dryer, and it's kind of OK now, but definitely not as good as before. I probably will end up getting a new sheath.
 
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