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 ammoniom 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-
Trichloroethane 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 inhibitor 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 inhibitors
ineffective.
The use of reclaimed solvents is particularly
hazardous. Reclaimers may not add any inhibitors, or
may add incorrect amounts of inhibitors, or may add
improper types of inhibitors. Also, the possible
presence of water in reclaimed solvents 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 aluminum 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 Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOC's), their low flammability hazard, and their not
being classified as toxic or carcinogenic substances,
HHC solvents are very desirable in many respects.
7
