Document a13odwY6a335Xq6971m03jzgM

DATA SHEET D-456 1/l/l-TRICHLOROETHANE (METHYL CHLOROFORM) Published by National Safety Counc.il 425 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 11 1. Commercial 1,1,1-trichloroethane is one of many available chlorinated hydrocarbons. It has its own chemical, physical, and toxic properties. It must not be confused with or thought to have the same properties as either 1,1,2-trichloroethane or trichloro ethylene, which have similar sounding names. Physical Properties 2. Some of the physical pro perties of 1,1,1-trichloroethane are given in the following list: Thi Dota Sht is one of a series published by the Notional Safety Council, reflecting experience from many sources. Not every acceptable procedure is necessarily included. Data Sheets should not be confused with American Standard Safety Codes, fed eral laws, insurance requirements, state laws, rules and regulations, or municipal ordinances. 3. The solvency of 1,1,1-tri chloroethane is similar to that of carbon tetrachloride. The KauriButanol number is 124. 4. The material is insoluble in Physical Properties Formula Molecular weight Freezing point Boiling range (atm. press.) Specific gravity at 25/25 C Specific gravity at 60/60 F Pounds per gallon at 25 C Refractive index at 25 C Viscosity at 25 C. centipoises Flash point Fire point Vapor pressure at 28 C (82.4 F) Evaporation rate at 24-4 C (76 F) 1 Uninhibited Grade CM3CCla 133.42 --32.7 C (--26.9 F) 73-75 C <163.4- 167 F) 1236-1238 1.351-1253 11.16 1.436-1.433 None None 150 mm Hg 0.595 gai/sq tt/day Typical Inhibited Grade --50 C (--58.0 F) . 72-88 C (161.6-190.4 F) 1218-1.320 1.331-1.333 11.01 1.432-1-434 0.79 None None 150 mm Hg 0255 gal/M tt/day Copyright, 1957, National Safety Council water but miscible with alcohol and ether. Chemical Properties 5. Since uninhibited 1,1,1- trichloroethane will readily corrode aluminum and aluminum alloys, it must not be permitted to come in contact with aluminum cans, tanks, screens, or other aluminum parts. 6. Inhibited 1,1,1-trichloroe thane, which is available under several different trade names, may be used in contact with alu minum. 7. The inhibitors are designed primarily to control corrosion of aluminum and its alloys under ordinary conditions. Tests with one of the inhibited grades of 1,1,1-trichloroethane at room tem perature showed negligible cor rosion on common metals, such as aluminum, brass, copper, iron, Monel, steel, tin, and zinc. 8. Tests of this inhibited grade at its boiling point with any of the mentioned common metals immersed under the solvent showed negligible corrosion. Also, except for zinc and aluminum, which are readily corroded, these same metals show negligible cor rosion when suspended in the vapor phase above the boiling solvent. SL 029*^2 _ 9. The inhibitors are not de signed to prevent hydrolysis at higher temperatures. ' 10.When heated, 1,1,1-trichloroethane does not form significant amounts of phosgene. When passed over iron at 635 F, 1,1,1trichloroethane produced less than 1/350 as much phosgene as did carbon tetrachloride under the same conditions; at 405 F, 1/550; at 540 F, 1/492. 11. 1,1,1-trichloroethane is an excellent solvent fOh oils, greases, tars, and waxes. Uses 12. Inhibited 1,1,1-trichloro ethane is used for cold cleaning, such as dip cleaning, bucket cleaning, wipe cleaning, spray cleaning, and electrical equipment cleaning. It is also used in aero sols, as a spot remover for fabrics, and as an adhesive solvent and activator. 13. Under no circumstances is it recommended as a fire ex tinguishing agent. It is not rec ommended for general vapor de greasing, even though it has been successfully used for this purpose under controlled conditions. Containers 14. Inhibited 1,1,1-trichloro ethane should be shipped in black iron drums. Aluminum drums, tanks, or other containers fitted with aluminum closures, screens, or other parts, should not be used, even for the inhibited materials. 15. The recommended warning label of the Manufacturing Chem ists' Association should be dis played on all containers. Shipping and Storage 16. There are no specific ship ping regulations provided by the Interstate Commerce Commis sion. 17. It is recommended that protection from moisture be pro vided for bulk storage and that the material not be stored in aluminum. Ventilation 18. The maximum acceptable concentration for 1,1,1-tricloro- EQUATION FOR CALCULATING VENTILATION REQUIRED V-=403 X 1-32 X 1,000,000 X pints solv lost/hr where 133.5 X 500 V=cubic feet of dilution per hour 132 ^specific gravity of solvent 133.5=molecular weight of solvent 500=parts per million ethane is 500 ppm according to the American Conference of Gov ernmental Industrial Hygienists. If the solvent is not heated above room temperature, general venti lation probably would maintain that value for a small exposed area. For a large area, local ex haust ventilation will probably be required. If it is desired to calculate the amount of ventila tion required, the accompanying equation can be used, preferably applying a safety factor of two or three in order to be safe be cause of the unpredictability of general ventilation. Fire Hazards and Electrical Equipment 19. The flammability character istics of 1,1,1-trichloroethane are the same range as those of tri chloroethylene. It has no flash or fire point by the Cleveland open-cup method. When the va pors are exposed to open flames, irritating and toxic gases may be formed. 20. No special precautions are required so far as electrical equipment is concerned. How ever, 1,1,1-trichloroethane may damage some electrical insula tions upon prolonged immersion. Toxic Properties 21. Like most other commonly used solvents, 1,1,1-trichloro ethane after prolonged and re peated contact with the skin can cause a dermatitis. Occasional contacts of short duration should not cause skin irritation. 22. Introduction of the undi luted material into the eyes will cause pain and irritation. 23. Taken orally, 1,1,1-trichlo roethane is moderately toxic. The oral minimum lethal dose for dogs is 750 mg/ltg, with death in 24 hours. Accidental or willful swal lowing of substantial quantities could result in serious illness, 24.1,1,1-Trichloroethane va por when inhaled is capable of causing anesthetic effects but is not likely to cause appreciable or ganic injury as a result of vapor exposure. These are predictions from animal experiments. There is no known case of human injury. 25. The material may be ad sorbed through the skin, but probably not in amounts sufficient to produce toxic effects. Personal Protective Equipment 26. Impervious gloves may be needed for jobs that require im mersion of the hands in the sol vent. Natural rubber gloves will be attacked to some degree by the solvent. Synthetic rubber or plas tic-coated gloves give the best protection. Gloves should be dis carded as soon as signs of deteri oration appear. 27. Eye protection may be re quired, ranging from cover-type goggles to cup-type goggles, de pending upon the degree of ex posure expected. Accidental splashing of the solvent in the eyes can cause pain and irritation. 28. If large surfaces of 1,1,1trichloroethane are exposed to air or if ventilation is limited, gas masks approved by the U. S. Bu reau of Mines for organic vapor should be available, and personnel should be trained in their use. 29. A self-contained breathing, apparatus or a hose mask will be required for entering tanks which SL 029473 contain 1,1,1-trichloroethane. Reg ular tank-entering procedures should be followed in all such work. * Symptoms of Poisoning 30. The symptoms, of poisoning in order of increasing severity are impaired coordination, dizziness, sleepiness, mental dullness, and unconsciousness. First Aid 31. If a person should be over come by 1,1,1-trichloroethane, the following steps should be taken: a. Remove the victim immediately to fresh air. If breathing stops, begin artificial respiration at once. When breathing starts again, oxygen should be administered by qualified personnel. b. Remove soaked clothing, and wash the skin with running water. c. If the eyes are involved, wash them with running water for at least 15 minutes. d. Secure medical attention immedi ately, making known to the medical personnel that the exposure is 1,1,1trichloroethane, Maximum Allowable Concentrations 32. Concentrations ranging up to 1,000 ppm can be tolerated occasionally for short periods of time up to 30 minutes. 33. The industrial hygiene stan dard for repeated eight-hour ex posures has been set at 500 ppm.* 34. There are instruments on the market which can be used to analyze atmospheres containing 1,1,1-trichloroethane.** Odor Levels 35. At 500 ppm, the odor is per ceptible but not disagreeable to most persons. 36. At 1,000 ppm, the odor is strong and unpleasant. An ex posure of one-half hour causes no ill effects, but flushing of the face is noted. 37. At 2,000 ppm, the odor is dis tinctly disagreeable with anes thetic effects noted in about five minutes. `"Threshold Limit Values for 1956," AMA Archives of Industrial Health, August, 1956, American Medical Asso ciation, Chicago 10, 111. **Encyclopedia of Instrumentation for Industrial Hygiene, 1956, Univer sity of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan. REFERENCES Adams, Spencer, Rowe, and Irish, "Vapor Toxicity of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (Methyl Chloroform) Deter mined by Experiments on Laboratory Animals," AMA Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Medicine, Vol. 1, p. 225, American Medical Associ ation, Chicago 10, Illinois, 1950. A.I.H.A. Hygienic Guide on 1,1,1-trichloroethane, American Industrial Hy giene Association, Detroit 27, Michigan, 1956. Encyclopedia of Instrumentation for Industrial Hygiene, University of Mich igan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1956. "Threshold Limit Values for 1956," AMA Archives of Industrial Health, American Medical Association, Chica go 10, Illinois, August, 1956. Von Oettingen, W. F,, The Halogenated Aliphatic, Olefinic, Cyclic, Aromatic and Aliphatic-Aromatic Hy drocarbons, Public Health Service Publication No. 414, pp. 156, 157, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washing ton, D. C,, 1955. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This data sheet was prepared by the Data Sheet and Instruction Card Sub committee of the Chemical Section, Na tional Safety Council, under the chair manship of H. H. Fawcett, with extensive cooperation of Dr. V, K. Rowe, R. L. Allison, W. E. Brown, and S. M, MacCutcheon, all of the Dow Chemical Company, Content has been extensively reviewed by members of the National Safety Council and by representatives of chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers. The data sheet has been approved for publication by the Publications Com mittee of the Industrial Conference of the National Safety Council. SL 02947A