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Section 4 - Safety Information: General Safety
To avoid moisture contamination, don't open containers
until ready for use. After use, the remaining material
should be re-sealed in the original container and stored
in areas away from moisture.
During clean-up of spilled isocyanate component,
respirators, gloves and eye protection must be worn.
Isocyanates which have been spilled can be controlled
by covering them with dry sawdust and/or other
absorbent, inert materials. Care should be taken to
avoid skin contact. The absorbent material and the
absorbed isocyanate should be collected promptly,
placed in an open-top container, and treated with dilute
solutions of ammonium hydroxide and/or alcohol. While
being treated in this manner, the material should be in
an adequately ventilated area. Clothing on which any
material has been spilled should be removed
immediately, and cleaned before being worn again.
Clean-Up Solvents
WARNING
A hazardous situation may be present in your
pressurized fluid system!
Halogenated Hydrocarbon Solvents can cause an
explosion when used with aluminum or galvanized
components in a closed (pressurized) fluid system
(pumps, heaters, filters, valves, spray guns, tanks, etc.).
The explosion could cause serious injury, death and/or
substantial property damage.
Cleaning agents, coatings, paints, etc. may contain
Halogenated Hydrocarbon Solvents.
Some GlasCraft spray equipment includes aluminum or
galvanized components and will be affected by
Halogenated Hydrocarbon Solvents.
There are three key elements to the Halogenated
Hydrocarbon (HHC) solvent hazard.
1.The presence of HHC solvents. 1,1,1-Trichloro
ethane and Methylene Chloride are the most common
of these solvents. However, other HHC solvents are
suspect if used; either as part of paint or adhesives
formulation, or for clean-up or flushing.
2. Aluminum or Galvanized Parts. Most handling
equipment contains these elements. In contact with
these metals, HHC solvents could generate a
corrosive reaction of a catalytic nature.
3.
Equipment capable of withstanding pressure.
When HHC solvents contact aluminum or galvanized parts
inside a closed container, such as a pump, spray gun, or
fluid handling system, the chemical reaction can, over time,
result in a build-up of heat and pressure, which can reach
explosive proportions.
When all three elements are present, the result can be an
extremely violent explosion. The reaction can be sustained
with very little aluminum or galvanized metal: any amount of
aluminum is too much.
The reaction is unpredictable. Prior use of an HHC solvent
without incident (corrosion or explosion) does NOT mean
that such use is safe. These solvents can be dangerous
alone (as a clean-up or flushing agent) or when used as
a component of a coating material. There is no known in-
hibitor that is effective under all circumstances. Furthermore,
the mixing of HHC solvents with other materials or solvents,
such as MEK, alcohol, and toluene, may render the inhibi-
tors ineffective.
The use of reclaimed solvents is particularly hazardous. Re-
claimers may not add any inhibitors, or may add incorrect
amounts of inhibitors, or may add improper types of inhibi-
tors. Also, the possible presence of water in reclaimed sol-
vents could feed the reaction.
Anodized or other oxide coatings cannot be relied upon to
prevent the explosive reaction. Such coatings can be worn,
cracked, scratched, or too thin to prevent contact. There is
no known way to make oxide coatings or to employ alumi-
num alloys, which will safely prevent the chemical reaction
under all circumstances.
Several solvent suppliers have recently begun promoting
HHC solvents for use in coating systems. The increasing
use of HHC solvents is increasing the risk. Because of their
exemption from many State Implementation Plans as Vola-
tile Organic Compounds (VOC's), their low flammability haz-
ard, and their not being classified as toxic or carcinogenic
substances, HHC solvents are very desirable in many re-
spects.
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