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Product Name: Nitrocellulose Wet (with water content at least 25%)
Synonyms: Cellulose nitrate, Guncotton (wet), Nitrated cellulose, Wet nitrocellulose
CAS Number: 9004-70-0
EC Number: 618-393-3
Recommended Use: Film coating, lacquers, inks, propellant bases
Supplier Information: Manufacturer's address, phone number, and emergency contact details listed on product label
Emergency Phone: Local and regional chemical emergency phone lines, CHEMTREC, or similar international chemical response number
Classification: Explosives (Division 1.3, UN 2555), Flammable solid, Eye irritant
Label Elements: Danger symbol (exploding bomb); Signal word: Danger; Hazard statements: Flammable solid, May cause fire or explosion; May cause eye irritation
Risk Phrases: R11 (Highly flammable), R2 (Risk of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition)
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat, open flames, sparks; Store in cool, well-ventilated place; Avoid dust formation; Wash hands thoroughly after handling
Health Effects: Dust or vapors may irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory tract; Risk of explosion if dried below specified water content
Chemical Name: Nitrocellulose (cellulose nitrate)
Water Content: At least 25% by weight
Hazardous Components: Nitrocellulose (60–75%), Water (25–40%)
Impurities: Small amounts of residual solvents such as ethanol or methanol possible depending on manufacturing process
CAS Numbers: Nitrocellulose (9004-70-0), Water (7732-18-5)
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air, keep comfortable and seek medical advice if symptoms develop
Skin Contact: Rinse skin thoroughly with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing; get medical attention if irritation persists
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes promptly with plenty of clean water for at least 15 minutes, lifting eyelids occasionally; seek immediate medical advice if irritation continues
Ingestion: Rinse mouth; give small quantities of water to drink; do not induce vomiting unless advised by medical personnel; seek medical help
Symptoms: Irritated eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, possible mild dermatitis from dust
Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, fog, or foam only—do not use dry chemical or CO2 as these can be ineffective for large quantities
Suitability: Large amounts of water to flood product
Special Hazards: Rapid combustion; intense heat; produces toxic gases, including oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide
Protective Equipment: Wear full protective gear including chemical splash suit, gloves, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); avoid inhalation of smoke and vapors
Advice for Firefighters: Evacuate area; contain runoff from firefighting to prevent environmental contamination; keep containers cool with water spray
Explosion Hazard: Product is not explosive in wet state, but dries easily and becomes sensitive to impact, heat, and static discharge
Personal Protection: Evacuate all non-essential personnel; wear appropriate PPE such as gloves, safety goggles, dust mask or respirator
Spill Cleanup: Wet down all spilled material immediately to prevent drying; collect using non-sparking tools or equipment; avoid dust formation
Containment: Prevent product from entering drains, sewers, or natural waterways
Disposal: Place collected material in containers with water; close tightly and label for safe disposal according to regulatory requirements
Environmental Precaution: Avoid discharge into the environment; notify local authorities in case of large spills
Handling: Only trained personnel handle nitrocellulose; keep away from heat and ignition sources; avoid excessive friction, impact, and static electricity; handle under well-ventilated conditions
Storage: Store in original, tightly closed water-resistant containers; temperature should stay below 30°C; must always be kept wet—never allow to dry out; keep away from incompatible materials such as acids, bases, and reducing agents
Packaging: Approved drums or polyethylene containers, tightly closed and labeled
Special Precautions: Bond and ground containers during transfer operations
Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers, metallic powders, organic solvents (if water content is lost)
Occupational Exposure Limits: No occupational exposure limit assigned for wet nitrocellulose; treat as a nuisance dust (10 mg/m³ total dust; 5 mg/m³ respirable fraction, ACGIH)
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation recommended to control dust and reduce risk of ignition
Personal Protective Equipment: Wear safety goggles or face shield, chemical resistant gloves, antistatic protective clothing, and approved dust mask or respirator; safety footwear with conductive soles
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands after handling; do not eat, drink, or smoke during use; remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse
Monitoring: Regular inspection of storage areas for water loss or dried deposits
Appearance: Off-white fibrous powder or cotton-like mass, always damp to the touch
Odor: Neutral to faint ether-like scent
pH: Not applicable (insoluble in water)
Melting Point: Decomposes before melting (decomposition temperature is about 160–170°C)
Boiling Point: Not applicable
Flash Point: Not applicable in wet state
Self-Ignition Temperature: Approx. 160°C (for dry nitrocellulose)
Explosion Properties: Not explosive in wet condition; becomes explosive if dried
Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in mixtures of ether and alcohol
Vapor Pressure: Not applicable
Relative Density: 1.3–1.4 g/cm³ (bulk)
Water Content: 25% or higher by mass
Chemical Stability: Stable as long as product stays wet with at least 25% water
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, flames, static electricity, drying to below specified water content
Materials to Avoid: Oxidizing agents, acids, alkalis, strong reducing agents, heavy metal compounds
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, other toxic fumes when burned or decomposed
Reactivity: Becomes dangerously sensitive if dried; keeps under controlled water-rich environment
Acute Toxicity: Low toxicity by ingestion, inhalation or skin contact; mild irritation possible from prolonged contact with dust
Chronic Effects: No evidence of significant chronic toxicity with wet product
Skin and Eye Contact: Irritation of eyes, nose, and throat from dust; mild and reversible
Inhalation: Not expected to cause harmful effects at typical workplace concentrations; can cause coughing and discomfort in high dust concentrations
Carcinogenicity: No evidence of carcinogenic effect for nitrocellulose in humans
Other Health Effects: No known reproductive toxicity or teratogenic effect identified
Medical Symptoms: Itching eyes, sneezing, temporary irritation, possible mild headache if exposed to large volumes of dust
Environmental Fate: Degrades slowly in environment; not readily biodegradable; persistent in soil
Aquatic Toxicity: Low acute toxicity to aquatic organisms; risk comes from large spills affecting natural habitats
Persistence: Strongly resistant to biological degradation
Bioaccumulation: Low potential for bioaccumulation
Mobility in Soil: Limited mobility due to insolubility in water
Ecological Concerns: Avoid contamination of waterways and natural habitats; bulk release can damage aquatic life and affect water treatment processes
Safe Disposal: Keep waste wet at all times; do not allow to dry before disposal
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse empty containers with water; dispose of in accordance with local regulations
Methods: Incinerate under controlled conditions at approved facilities; small quantities may be disposed as hazardous waste following consultation with authorities
Legal Requirements: Comply with all federal, state, and local environmental regulations; do not release to environment
UN Number: 2555
Proper Shipping Name: Nitrocellulose, wet with not less than 25% water, by mass
Hazard Class: 4.1 (Flammable solids)
Packing Group: II
Label: Flammable solid, Keep wet
IMDG Code: Complies with international maritime transport guidelines for nitrocellulose in water
Special Precautions for Transport: Only ship in UN-approved packaging; maintain water content; avoid shock, friction, and heat during transport; vehicle and container must be clearly marked and labeled
EU Classification: Classified as a dangerous substance under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP/GHS)
US Regulation: Listed on TSCA inventory; subject to DHS Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
Canadian WHMIS: Flammable solid, Division D2B (toxic material causing other toxic effects)
Other Global Standards: Complies with IATA and IMDG requirements for hazardous cargo
Restricted Uses: Only supplied to authorized facilities with appropriate licensing and safety procedures
Compliance: Safety Data Sheet prepared in accordance with GHS (Globally Harmonized System) and revised OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200
