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Product Name: Nitrocellulose
SYNONYMS: Cellulose nitrate, Flash cotton, Flash paper
Manufacturer: Please refer to local supplier information
Recommended Uses: Industrial coatings, inks, lacquers
Emergency Contact: Refer to local emergency numbers and supplier contact
Formula: C6H7O2(ONO2)3
CAS Number: 9004-70-0
REACH Registration Number: Information available upon request
Classification: Flammable solid, Explosive risk, Irritant
GHS Pictograms: Flame, exclamation mark, exploding bomb
Hazard Statements: Easily ignites in contact with sparks or open flames. Releases irritating vapors. Causes skin and eye irritation. May explode under heat or shock.
Signal Word: Danger
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat, sparks, and open flame. Use explosion-proof equipment. Ground and bond container when transferring material. Avoid breathing dust or vapor. Wear protective equipment.
Nitrocellulose: 70–75%
Ethanol: 25–30%
Water: Up to 5%
Impurities: Trace residuals from manufacturing process or stabilizers
Chemical Family: Nitric esters, organic compound
Inhalation: Move affected person to fresh air. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist, such as coughing or breathing difficulty.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Wash exposed area with soap and water for several minutes. Contact medical services for persistent irritation.
Eye Contact: Hold eyelids open. Rinse eyes cautiously with water for 10-15 minutes. Remove contact lenses if possible. Get medical help right away for redness, pain, or vision changes.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water. Seek immediate medical care, especially if the person feels unwell.
Most Important Symptoms: Eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation, headache, dizziness, confusion if exposed to high vapor concentrations.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray (large quantities only), carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Foam, as this may spread fire in some cases
Hazardous Combustion Products: Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, irritant vapors
Firefighting Advice: Approach fire from upwind, use self-contained breathing apparatus, wear full protective gear. Avoid confined spaces where buildup could increase explosion risk.
Explosion Hazards: Material may detonate from intense heat or shock. Wet down with large amounts of water to prevent fire spread. Retreat immediately if noise from decomposition or rupture is heard.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area. Remove sources of ignition. Ventilate closed spaces before entering.
Protective Equipment: Wear chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, dust mask or respirator, and flame-retardant clothing.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent release into sewer, drains, or waterways. Notify authorities if entry to environment occurs.
Cleanup Methods: Sweep up material using non-sparking tools. Do not dry sweep dusty residues; keep material damp with water. Place in properly labeled, closed containers for disposal.
Decontamination: Wash spill area with water after pickup is complete, observing environmental guidelines.
Handling: Use in well-ventilated areas to keep concentrations below recommended exposure limits. Avoid rough handling, friction, or impact. Keep away from ignition sources such as heat, sparks, or flames. Transfer only using grounded and non-sparking tools. Prohibit smoking indoors or near product. Do not return unused product to original container.
Storage: Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight and incompatible substances like strong acids, oxidizers or reducing agents. Keep containers tightly closed and clearly labeled. Maintain storage temperature below 30°C (86°F). Segregate from food, feed and drinking water supplies. Emergency eyewash and shower facilities should be available nearby.
Occupational Exposure Limits: Consult national regulatory documentation and workplace standards; typical recommendations for dusts and ethanol vapors apply.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation to control airborne concentrations. Ensure equipment is explosion-proof.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear chemical splash-proof goggles, flame-retardant gloves, long-sleeved protective clothing. Respirators fitted for organic vapors and dust may be required if ventilation is insufficient. Use antistatic footwear and flooring. Wash hands before eating, drinking, or smoking. Never wear contaminated clothing outside area of use.
Appearance: White or off-white fibrous mass, sometimes wetted with ethanol
Odor: Alcoholic, faintly sweet
Odor Threshold: Not established
pH: Not applicable
Melting Point/Freezing Point: Decomposes before melting (over 160°C / 320°F)
Initial Boiling Point and Range: Boiling point not defined; ethanol component boils at 78°C (172°F)
Flash Point: Below 23°C (below 73°F, due to ethanol)
Evaporation Rate: Not determined for mixture
Flammability: Highly flammable solid
Lower/Upper Flammability or Explosive Limits: Ethanol vapor 3.3%-19% in air
Vapor Pressure: Not available
Vapor Density: Not available
Relative Density: 1.1–1.7 g/cm³
Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in esters/ethers and alcohol
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): Not available
Auto-ignition Temperature: 180–210°C (dependent on composition)
Decomposition Temperature: Above 160°C (decomposes explosively)
Viscosity: Not applicable to solid form
Molecular Weight: Variable, depending on polymerization
Chemical Stability: Stable under proper, cool storage conditions, but shock, friction, or high heat can cause decomposition or explosion.
Conditions to Avoid: Sources of ignition, impact, static discharge, incompatible chemicals (strong acids, bases, oxidizers), sunlight, high temperatures.
Incompatibility: Strong acids, alkalis, reducing agents, oxidizers, metal powders
Hazardous Decomposition: May emit toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide on burning.
Polymerization: No hazardous polymerization expected.
Acute Toxicity: Ethanol component may cause intoxication, central nervous system depression. Nitrocellulose dust causes respiratory irritation. LC50/LD50 data for nitrocellulose are limited; not considered acutely toxic by ingestion, but inhaling large dust loads causes lung irritation.
Skin Contact: Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause reddening and dryness.
Eye Contact: Dust or vapor causes pain, redness, watering, possible abrasion.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure to vapor may cause liver, kidney or nervous system damage, mainly due to ethanol component.
Carcinogenicity: No component considered carcinogenic by IARC, NTP or OSHA.
Mutagenicity: Not classifiable for nitrocellulose; ethanol is not considered mutagenic at anticipated exposures.
Reproductive Toxicity: Limited data; ethanol known to affect human development at high exposures.
Aquatic Toxicity: Not expected to be acutely toxic to aquatic life in usual use concentrations. Ethanol can be harmful to some aquatic organisms at high concentrations.
Persistence and Degradability: Nitrocellulose gradually degrades by photolysis and biological action in the environment; presence of ethanol aids in biodegradation.
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low, due to rapid environmental breakdown.
Mobility in Soil: Limited for nitrocellulose; ethanol component is mobile and can leach through soil.
Other Adverse Effects: Large spills may pose significant fire risk to natural or built environments. Avoid uncontrolled discharge.
Material Disposal: Collect into tightly sealed, labeled containers. Incinerate only in facilities specialized for explosive chemical disposal. Dampen with water before transport or incineration.
Container Disposal: Empty packaging must be thoroughly cleaned, wetted, and rendered non-explosive before recycling or incineration.
Precautions: Dispose in accordance with local, regional, and national regulations. Consult environmental authorities for specific methods.
Avoid: Landfill disposal, burning in open sites, or releasing untreated product into waterways.
UN Number: 2556 (Nitrocellulose solution, flammable), see local transport classification
Proper Shipping Name: Nitrocellulose with alcohol, wetted with not less than 25% alcohol by mass
Transport Hazard Class: 4.1 (Flammable solid)
Packing Group: II
Labeling: Flammable solid, Explosive (if dry)
Special Precautions: Keep container tightly sealed. Transport under cool, temperature-controlled conditions. Placards and safety documentation required. Emergency procedures for spillage or fire along transport route must be available.
TSCA Status (USA): Listed
REACH Status (EU): Registered under appropriate requirements
OSHA Hazard Communication: Covered by chemical hazard and flammable solid rules
Canada WHMIS: Classified as B4 (Flammable Solid), D2B (Toxic Material causing other effects)
SARA 313: Ethanol component is not reportable, nitrocellulose not listed
Other International Regulations: Check local or regional regulations for handling, transport and disposal
Labeling Requirements: Comply with GHS and country-specific labeling rules.
