Poly (Butylene Carbonate) – QPAC® PBC

QPAC^® PBC is made up of no less than 94% Poly(butylene carbonate) polymer and has less than 5% butylene carbonate and less than 1% (between 0.2%-0.8%) methylene chloride.

Methylene chloride is GHSA classified as H351: “Suspected of causing cancer” in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix A (OSHA HCS) Carcinogenicity (methylene chloride: Category 2)

Butylene carbonate is GHS classified as H319: “Causes serious eye irritation” in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix A (OSHA HCS) Eye Irritation (Butylene carbonate: Category 2A)

​Chemical Family: Aliphatic Polycarbonate

Use(s) of the substance/the mixture: Laboratory chemicals, manufacture of substances.

Restriction(s) on the use of the substance/the mixture: None known.

Exposure limits of pure Methylene Chloride

Read the OSHA Methylene Chloride Standard [OSHA3144-06R (2003)]: It sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts methylene chloride per million parts of air (ppm) as an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This refers to the average exposure during an eight-hour period. Employers have to use engineering and work practice controls to restrict employee exposures. Respiratory protection must be used as well if these controls are inadequate to reduce exposures to below the limits.

The action level for airborne methylene chloride is set at a concentration of 12.5 ppm, calculated as an eight-hour TWA. Reaching or exceeding the action level signals at which employers must begin compliance activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance. There is also a short term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 ppm, as measured across a 15 minute period.

GHS Label Elements, Including Precautionary Statements

Hazard Pictograms

Signal Word: Warning!

Hazard Statements Eye Irritation: H319 Causes serious eye irritation.

Hazards not Otherwise Classified (HNOC) or Not Covered by GHS

Avoid temperatures above 150 °C.

Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents.

At process temperatures irritating fumes may be produced.

Hazardous Decomposition Products: Butylene carbonate when burned may create toxic levels of carbon monoxide, butylene oxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, other irritating aldehydes, ketones and acids. Other dangerous products may occur under conditions of combustion or decomposition, and/or result from interaction with other materials and/or environment of combustion or decomposition.

Molten polymer may cause thermal burns.

The material may collect static charges, which could be a source of ignition.

Slipping hazard if spilled on hard smooth walking surface.

Emergency Overview

Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Avoid breathing vapor or dust from powder or granulates. Do not swallow. Wear latex gloves and safety glasses.

Wash well after handling. Use with sufficient ventilation. May create dangerous gases under fire conditions.

During emergencies, wear equipment to protect skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Prevent material and run-off from entering waterways or sewer. Consult the Safety Data Sheet.

Conditions Aggravated by Exposure

No animal or human health effects data are known to exist. However, available toxicity information on polymers of molecular weight 1000 or greater indicates they have low toxicity.

May contain 0.2 – 0.8% methylene chloride. Pure methylene chloride is a suspected human carcinogen.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

First Aid Measures

Description of First Aid Measures:

• Eye Contact: Immediately flush with plenty of water for 15 minutes while holding back eyelids occasionally.
  Call a physician.
• Skin Contact: In case of skin contact, wash with soap and water.
• Ingestion/Swallowed: In case of ingestion have victim drink plenty of water. Call a physician.
• Inhalation: Immediately remove victim to fresh air. If breathing becomes hard, call a physician.
• Most vital symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed: The most crucial known symptoms and effects are described in section 2.

Fire Fighting Measures

Extinguishing Media

• Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, dry chemical, alcohol resistant foam or carbon dioxide.
• Special Hazards Arising from the Substance or Mixture Combustion Products: Butylene carbonate when burned may form toxic levels of formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, butylene oxide, carbon monoxide, other irritating aldehydes, acids and ketones. Other dangerous products may occur under conditions of decomposition or combustion, and/or result from interaction with other materials and/or environment of combustion or decomposition.
• Explosion Hazard: Avoid dust creation; Fine dust dispersed in air in adequate concentrations, and in the presence of an ignition source is a potential dust explosion risk.
• Sensitive to Static Discharge: Static discharge could be an ignition source for a combustible concentration of dust.
• Advice for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.

Accidental Release Measures

• Personal Precautions, Protective Equipment and Emergency Procedures: Wear protective equipment. Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing mist, vapors or gas.
• Environmental Precautions: Do not allow to enter sewers/ ground or surface water.
• Methods and Materials for Containment and Cleaning Up: Sweep up and shovel. Keep in properly closed containers for correct disposal.
• Reference to Other Sections:
  • See section 7 for information on safe handling
  • See section 8 for information on personal protection equipment
  • See section 13 for disposal information

Handling / Storage

• General Procedures: Comply with legal requirements. Keep away from sparks, heat and flame. Avoid dust generation and buildup. Regular housekeeping should be instituted to guarantee that dusts do not accumulate on surfaces. Avoid dispersal of dust in the air (i.e., clearing dust surfaces with compressed air).
• Precautions for Safe Handling: Additional processing of solid materials may result in the creation of combustible dusts. The potential for combustible dust information should be thought about before extra processing occurs. Provide suitable exhaust ventilation at places where dust develops. For precautions see section 2.
• Conditions for Safe Storage, Including Any Incompatibilities: Keep container firmly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Suggested storage temperature: 2-8 °C.
• Specific end use(s): Apart from the uses stated in section 1, no other particular uses are specified
• Incompatibility:
  • Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents
  • Temperature above 150 °C

Exposure Control and Personal Protection

Control Parameters:

• Components with workplace control parameters: Contains less than 5% butylene carbonate (mix of isomers) and less than 1% (between 0.2%-0.8%) methylene chloride

Exposure Controls:

• Engineering Controls: Provide sufficient room ventilation. Provide suitable ventilation in areas where vapors can be generated (e.g. methylene chloride). Eliminate ignition sources in areas where dust could be generated (e.g. dust collectors). Ensure that dust-handling systems (such as exhaust ducts, dust collectors, vessels and processing equipment) are designed in a manner to prevent the escape of dust into the work area (i.e., there is no leakage from the equipment). It is suggested that all dust control equipment such as local exhaust ventilation have explosion relief vents or an explosion suppression system.
• Ventilation: Local, mechanical exhaust ventilation suggested especially when used in thermal processing or spray applications. Work areas have to be well-ventilated to maintain low methylene chloride vapor concentration.
• Exposure limits: Refer to the OSHA standard for methylene chloride for extra information. The OSHA standard sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 parts methylene chloride per million parts of air (ppm) as an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This refers to the average exposure during an eight-hour period. Employers must use engineering and work practice controls to minimize employee exposures. Respiratory protection must be used as well if these controls are inadequate to lessen exposures to below the limits.
  The action level for airborne methylene chloride is fixed at a concentration of 12.5 ppm, calculated as an eight-hour TWA. Realizing or exceeding the action level signals at which employers must start compliance activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance. There is also a short term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 ppm, as measured across a 15 minute period.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Respiratory Protection

If excessive dusting occurs or methylene chloride levels are above the limits, wear NIOSH/MSHA approved mist/dust respirator.

• Skin Protection

Chemical resistant gloves and apron. Wear gloves to prevent contact with molten resins.

Wear safety glasses during normal use

• Eye Protection

Wear safety glasses to protect eyes. Eye wash fountain and emergency shower should be provided in work.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Stability and Reactivity

• Reactivity: No data available.
• Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions.
• Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: No data available.
• Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizing agents.
• Hazardous Decomposition Products: Butylene carbonate when burned may produce toxic levels of carbon monoxide, butylene oxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, other irritating aldehydes, ketones and acids. Other dangerous products may occur under conditions of combustion or decomposition, and/or result from interaction with other materials and/or environment of combustion or decomposition.

In the event of fire: see section 5.

• Materials and Conditions to Avoid: Keep away from excess heat and temperatures beyond 150 °C. During the initial mild decomposition, the polymer decomposes mainly to butylene carbonate. Additional decomposition of the polymer and the butylene carbonate can develop butylene oxide, carbon dioxide and various other unknown materials both solid and gaseous.

Toxicological Information

General

No human or animal health effects data are known to exist for polybutylene carbonate. However, available toxicity information on polymers of molecular weight 1000 or greater indicates they have low toxicity. May comprise of 0.2 – 0.8% methylene chloride. Pure methylene chloride is considered to be a suspected human carcinogen. May comprise of up to 5% butylene carbonate. Butylene carbonate may lead to serious eye damage.

Information on toxicological effects:

• Acute Toxicity:
  • No data available
  • Dermal: No data available
  • Inhalation: No data available
• Skin corrosion/irritation: No data available
• Serious eye damage/eye irritation: Butylene carbonate is GHS classified as H319: “Causes serious eye irritation” in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix A (OSHA HCS) Eye Irritation (Butylene carbonate: Category 2A).
• Respiratory or skin sensitization: No data available
• Germ cell mutagenicity: No data available
• Carcinogenicity: Methylene chloride is GHSA classified as H351: “Suspected of causing cancer” in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix A (OSHA HCS) Carcinogenicity (methylene chloride: Category 2)
• Reproductive toxicity: No data available
• Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure: No data available
• Specific target organ toxicity – repeated exposure: No data available
• Aspiration Hazard: No data available
• Acute Overexposure: No data is available on the health effects of chronic exposure to this product.
• Chronic Overexposure: No other effects besides those associated with acute exposure.

Ecological Information

• Toxicity: No data available
• Persistence and degradability: No data available
• Bio accumulative potential: No data available
• Mobility in soil: No data available
• Results of PBT and vPvB assessment: No data available
• Other adverse effects: No data available

Disposal Considerations

Waste Treatment Methods:

• Product: Offer non-recyclable and surplus solutions to a licensed disposal company.
• Containment packaging: Dispose of as unused product
• Hazardous Waste Characteristic: None
• Recommendation: Dispose of empty containers, contaminated product and materials employed in cleaning up spills or leaks in a manner approved for this material. Consult suitable federal, local and state regulatory agencies in order to ascertain proper disposal procedures. Discharge of processing effluent to the sewer may need a permit. Do not discharge effluent solutions to septic systems.

Transportation Information

Ground Shipping Information (DOT)

• Proper Shipping Name: None
• Non-Hazardous for Transport: This substance is considered to be non-hazardous for transport.

Air Shipping Information (ICAO/IATA)

• Proper Shipping Name: None
• Non-Hazardous for Air Transport: This substance is non-hazardous for air transport.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Additional Shipping Class (IMDG code)

• IMDG Code: Not Applicable
• HTS Code: Not Applicable

Regulatory Information

U.S. Federal Regulations

• SARA LISTED: No
• TSCA Inventory Item: U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): All component(s) comprising of these products are compliant with TSCA. These products have no special requirements under TSCA (for example, consent orders, test rules, 12(b) requirements, etc.).
• SARA 302 Components: No chemicals in this material are subject to the reporting requirements of SARA Title III, Section 302.
• SARA 313 Components: SARA Section 313 Toxic Chemical List: Methylene chloride is listed.

Other Information

Classification System:

NFPA Ratings
Fire Hazard = 0
Health Hazard = 0
Reactivity Hazard = 0

HMIS Ratings
Health Hazard = 0
Chronic Health Hazard = 0
Physical Hazard = 0
Flammability = 0

Refer to NFPA 652, Standard for Combustible Dusts, and NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, for safe handling.

It is assumed that the herein contained information is accurate. It is provided for the purpose of hazard communication independent of any sale of the product, as part of the product safety program.

There is no claim made with regards to an express warranty, implied warranty, and fitness for a specific purpose or merchantability by the information herein contained or regarding the product. Data sheets are available for the products, which can be obtained for those products that individuals buy, process, distribute or use. It is essential to advise those who may come in contact with the products of the herein contained information.

Users should consult their legal advisor or the appropriate government agency in order to establish applicability or effect of any regulation or law regarding the product. The company does not provide advice on these matters.