Document 7O1NOzV9xDwrmxJX4jQm6baX6

In keeping with its position as a lead ing producer of vinyl chloride monomer for the merchant market only, PPG In dustries expanded its Lake Charles, Louisiana, vinyl chloride plant in 1969. The Guayanilla, Puerto Rico plant, built in 1971, greatly increased PPG's capacity for making vinyl chloride monomer. A new large tanker, the S.S. Puerto Rican, transports refrigerated vinyl chloride monomer to a terminal at Paulsboro, New Jersey, where it is stored under refrigeration. PPG produces vinyl chloride mono mer by the oxyhydrochlorination of ethylene and holds more than 400 do mestic and foreign patents on this pro cess. At the PPG plant ir. Guavini'la. Puerto Rico, the company's rr.oCerr. 24,COCXon chemical tanker, S.S. Puerto Rican, receives a load of vinyl chloride monomer. At the Paulsboro. New Jarsy te-minal, the S.S. Puerto Rican's lead cf vinyl chloride monomer is transferred to the refrigerated storage tanks in the background. Uninhibited VCM is quite stable and can be routinely shipped, handled and stored provided proper procedures, out lined below, are followed. To prevent polymerization in transit or storage, it is essential that the monomer be protected at all times from contact with air, oxy gen. moisture, catalytic impurities and light. PPG normally supplies VCM unin hibited. The use of uninhibited VCM eliminates the need for subsequent pro cessing to remove the inhibitor. If re quired, suitable inhibitors will be added. More information appears in the PPG manual, "Vinyl Chloride Monomer Han dling and Properties," form A-994-115R. GRADES PPG Industries produces only poly mer-grade vinyl chloride monomer. USES Most vinyl chloride is polymerized to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or copoly merized with other monomers such as PPG's vinylidene chloride. Vinyl chlo ride monomer should not be used as an aerosol propellant. TOXICITY The Occupational Safety and Health Standard on exposure to vinyl chloride published October 4.1974, says: "Based on the demonstrated evidence of vinyl PROPERTIES Chemical Names: Vinyl chloride: vinyl chloride monomer; c! '^oethylene; chloroethene H. Chemical Formula: CH-CHCl; C--C Molecular Weight: 62.5 H/ VC1 Description: At ordinary temperatures and pressures, vinyl chloride is a colorless gas with a mild, sweet odor. But as supplied in tank cars and trucks under pressure, it is a liquid. Vinyl chloride is highly volatile and its vapor is extremely flam- able. Containers are labeled "cancer-suspect agent." Boiling Point, *C --13.8 Autoignition Temperature, *C 472 *F +7.0 *F 882 Freezing Point, *C --153.7 Liquid Density at 60*F 0.9192 *F --245 Vapor Density, air=l 2.15 Flash Point, open cup *C --78 Vapor Pressure, psia at 0*C 25.1 *F --108.4 20*C 49.2 Explosive Limits, volume % in air at 25*C (77*F) 3.6 to 33 40*C Solubility, water in monomer. at 25'C (77*F), weight % ` 87.6 0.11 Solubility: Vinyl chloride is relatively insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents. Reactivity: Vinyl chloride polymerizes exothermically in the presence of light, air, oxygen or catalysts. Heat alone will not initiate polymerization. Vinyl chlo ride is thermally stable to quite high temperatures. Although peroxide formation due to air exposure is a slow reaction, certain peroxide products are shock- sensitive. Vinyl chloride is noncorrosive to metals when dry at normal temper atures, but water and elevated temperatures accelerate corrosion. The double bond behaves as in other unsaturated compounds. The chlorine atom is relatively inactive and is more stable than in saturated or allylic compounds. ucc 060216 Specif nation and typical analysis: Specification Typical Analysis Appearance clear, free of clear, free of suspended matter suspended matter Color colorless, water-white colorless, water-white Acidity, as HC1, ppm Iron, as Fe, ppm (filtered sample) Nonvolatile residue, weight % Water. ppm Sulfur, as SO:, ppm Acetaldehyde, ppm Acetylene, ppm 5 maximum 0.5 maximum 0.05 maximum 100 maximum 3 maximum 5 maximum 2 maximum* <1 0.1 0.0003 34 <1 <1 <1 Thif maximum is an industry randard: however, ihe PPG product contains no detectable amount of acetylene. chloride monomer's carcinogenicity in three animal species (rats, mice and hamsters). and the substantial probabil ity that vinyl chloride monomer had been the causal agent in the cases of liver angiosarcoma found in workers both here and abroad. OSHA . . . pub lished a comprehensive proposal . . . to protect employees from hazards of exposure to vinyl chloride monomer/' Stated in this OSHA standard is the following "Permissible exposure limit scheduled to become effective January 1, 1975: (1) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 1 ppm (part per million by vol ume) averaged over any 8-hour period, and (2) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 5 ppm averaged over any period not exceeding 15 minutes. (3) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride by direct contact with liquid vinyl chloride." In cases where these limits of ex posure are exceeded, the wearing of respirators will be mandatory for work ers beginning January 1. 1976. Until then, the wearing cf respirators is dis cretionary for exposures under 25 ppm. Besides the suspected carcinogenicity, vinyl chloride monomer vapor can pro duce immediate symptoms in persons exposed to high concentrations. The odor of vinyl chloride monomer is sweetish and the sense of smell can not be relied upon as a warning. High vapor concentrations may cause lung irritation, can cause dizziness and anes thesia, and may do other bodily damage in ways not yet ascertained. In all cases of overexposure, immediately remove the affected individual to fresh air and obtain medical attention. Liquid vinyl chloride monomer may cause frostbite because it evaporates so fast. If a polymerization inhibitor is included, it may cause local skin bums. However, most vinyl chloride monomer shipped today is not inhibited. Workers should wear eye protection and protective clothing to prevent skin contact with the liquid. If vinyl chlo ride gets on clothing or shoes, they should be removed immediately. If vinyl chloride contacts the skin, wash im mediately with soap and water. If vinyl chloride contacts the eyes, the eyes should be washed immediately and thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes. Get medical attention. HANDLING AND STORAGE Detailed information appears in the PPG manual, "Vinyl Chloride Monomer Handling and Properties," form A-994115R. Fire hazard Vinyl chloride vapor is extremely flammable. Its explosive limits are be tween 3.6 and 53% by volume in air. Sufficient ventilation and the elimina tion of ignition sources are mandatory in areas where vapor concentrations may reach a flammable level. When a tank care is unloaded, both the car tank and the unloading pump must be elec trically grounded. The major products of combustion include toxic and corrosive hydrogen chloride as well as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Under certain con ditions. traces of phosgene may be pro duced. Unloading tank cars If tank car valves are defective or leaking, do not unload. Telephone the PPG Chemicals plant at Lake Charles, Louisiana. 318-882-1200. Information on unloading tank cars and trucks ap pears in the PPG manual, "Vinyl Chlo ride Monomer Handling and Proper ties." form A-994-115R. Warning: Air should never be permit ted to enter vinyl chloride tank cars or other containers during or after unload ing. Close and seal all openings. Leave at least 10 psig of vinyl chloride vapor pressure in empty tank car being re turned. PACKAGING AND SHIPPING PPG Industries delivers vinyl chlo ride by ship, barge, tank car and tank truck. There are three shipping points: Lake Charles. Louisiana; Guayanilla, Puerto Rico; and Paulsboro, New Jer sey. PPG maintains a fleet of tank cars for vinyl chloride service only. All cars are equipped for top unloading. Tank car capacity is 180,000-pounds net weight. Tank trucks hold up to 40,000 pounds. Ships and barges hold up to several million pounds. SAMPLES AND SERVICE Samples of vinyl chloride are avail able on special request in returnable laboratory-size steel cylinders holding 5 pounds. The technical service staff of PPG In dustries' Chemical Division is available for consulting on handling, storage and use. ucc 060217