Product ID:PURE TUNGSTEN (WOLFRAM) WELDING ELECTRODES
MSDS Date:01/06/2000
FSC:NIIN:Submitter:D DG
Status Code:A
MSDS Number: CKVMQ

Emergency Phone: 800-645-7476; 865-531-6065

Info Phone: 423-531-6065/800-645-7476

Cage: 56406

Telephone: 423-531-2044

Cage: 56406

PURE TUNGSTEN WELDING ELECTRODES

Routes of Entry: Inhalation:YES Skin:YES Ingestion:YES
Health Hazards Acute and Chronic:ELECTRIC SHOCK CAN KILL,SEE SAFETY IN
WELDING & CUTTING, OSHA REQUIREMENTS IN 29CFR 1910/ANSI Z49.1. NO
INHALATION HAZARD IS POSSIBLE FOR SOLID, FORMED PARTS, IF POWDER OF
DUST MAY BE GENERATED, AS FR OM MACHING/POLISHING OPERATIONS,
EXPOSURE IN EXCESS OF NRC LIMITS MAY INCREASE RISK OF LUNG CANCER.
THE LIGHT FROM AN ARC CAUSES EYE DAMAGE, INFLAMMATION OF THE MUCOUS
MEMBRANE COVERING THE EYE & EYEL IDS (FLASH BURN), & SKIN DAMAGE.
THE LIGHT TO ARC OF THE ARC ITSELF DECOMPOSE CHLORINATED
HYDROCARBON SOLVENTS INTO DANGEROUS CONCENTRATIONS OF TOXIC GASES
SUCH AS PHOSGENE, EVEN IF THE CHLORINATED HY DROCARBON
CONCENTRATION IS < ITS TLV.
Explanation of Carcinogenicity:ALTHOUGH NOT LISTED AS A CARCINOGEN IT
IS REPORTED BY SOME AUTHORITIES THAT THORIA TAKEN INTERNALLY (BY
RESPIRATORY ACTION, INGESTION BY ABSORPTION UNDER THE SKIN) IS
CARCINOGENIC BECAUSE OF ITS RADIO ACTIVE TUNGSTEN AND ZICONIA NOT
LISTED AS EITHER A KNOWN OR SUSPECT CARCINOGEN BY NTP, IARC, OR
OSHA.
Effects of Overexposure:NO SPECIFIC DATA, TESTING OF INFORMATION HAS
BEEN FOUND FOR THE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS THAT COMPRISE THIS PRODUCT,
ACCORDING, GENERAL SOURCE COMMENTS ARE INSIDE FOR THE ELEMENTS
INCLUDED IN ITS COMPOSITIO N. INHALATION OF TUNGSTEN DUSTS FUMES OR
MISTS CONTAINING TUNGSTEN. THORIUM AND ITS ISOTOPES ARE TOXIC
RADIOLOGICALLY, BUT CHEMICAL TOXICITY OF THORIUM IS LOW, POORLY
ABSORBED BY GASTROINTESTINAL TRAC T(0.01%) FORMATION OF PARTICULATE
OF COLLOIDAL FORMS OF THORIUM FOLLOWING ABSORPTION, AND BEING
SLOWLY EXCRETED FROM THE BODY PHAGUCYINIS BY THE
RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM MAY ACCOUNT FOR ITS LOW TOXI CITY.
Medical Cond Aggravated by Exposure:CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND
ASTHMA MAY BE AGGRAVATED BY EXPOSURE TO DUST, FUME OR MISTS. OTHER
CONDITIONS THAT MAY BE AGGRAVATED ARE NOT KNOWN AND WILL DEPEND
UPON CONDITIONS DURING ELECTRODE USE.

First Aid:SKIN CONTACT: WASH AREA OF CONTACT WITH SOAP AND WATER. IF
IRRITATION OCCURS, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. EYE CONTACT: WASH (EYE)
WITH LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES.IF IRRITATION
OCCURS, S EEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. INHALATION: REMOVE FROM EXPOSURE.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. IF NECESSARY, AID BREATHING. INGESTION:
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. OTHER: WOUNDS CONTAMINATED WITH DUST, FUME
OR MIST SHOU LD BE IMMEDIATELY AND THOROUGHLY CLEANED.

Flash Point:NA
Autoignition Temp:Autoignition Temp Text:NA
Lower Limits:NA
Upper Limits:NA
Extinguishing Media:FOR THE SURROUNDING FIRE. FOR TUNGSTEN DUST FIRES
USE CLASS D EXTINGUISHING MEDIA, DRY POWDERS.
Fire Fighting Procedures:FOR A TUNGSTEN DUST FIRE CONFINED TO A SMALL
AREA, USE A RESPIRATOR APPROVED FOR TOXIC DUSTS AND FUMES. FOR A
LARGE FIRE, FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD WEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING
APPARATUS.
Unusual Fire/Explosion Hazard:WHEN TUNGSTEN IS HEATED IN AIR, TUNGSTEN
TRIOXIDE (TAW 5MG(AS W) BEGINS TO SUBLIME ABOVE C.

Spill Release Procedures:DISPOSE OF THE MATERIAL FOLLOWING ALL
APPLICABLE REGULATIONS, TUNGSTEN SCRAP AND DUST HAVE VALUE AND CAN
BE RECLAIMED.

Other Precautions:THESE WELDING ELECTRODES DO NOT READILY BURN. FOR
ORDINARY CONDITIONS THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED NON-FLAMMABLE. HOWEVER,
WLEDING ARCS & SPARKS CAN IGNITE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS, VAPORS, AND
COMBUSTIBLE SOLIDS. TUNGSTEN DUST (FROM GINDING FOR EXAMPLE) MAY
PRESENT A MODERATE FIRE HAZARD IF ALLOWED TO ACCUMULAT E.

Respiratory Protection:NONE NEEDED FOR ELECTRODES AS RECEIVED. REQUIRED
DURING GRINDING(DRESSING ELECTRODE)/ WELDING, IF LIMITS ARE
EXCEEDED FOR THORIATED ELECTRODES USE A DUST MASK(FOR REDIONUCILE
PARTICLES) SPECIAL CANIST ER GAS MASK OR SUPPLIED AIR
RESPIRATOR;FOR TUNGSTEN & ZINCRONATED TUNGSTEN ELECTRODES USE DUST
RESPIRATOR.THE RESPIRATOR, SELECTED WILL DEPEND ON CONCENTRATION.
Ventilation:LOCAL VENTILATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR DRESSING THE
ELECTRODES. CONFINED SPACES REQUIRE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE VENTILATION.
Protective Gloves:REQUIRED WHEN WELDING.
Eye Protection:PROTECTION WITH WELDING WITH WELDING LENSES SHADE IS
REQUIRED WHILE WELDING.
Other Protective Equipment:WHEN WELDING WEAR FLAME RETARDANT CLOTHING
SUCH THAT SKIN IS NOT EXPOSED. EYE:SELECT WELDING LENSES SHADE FROM
AWS PUBLICATION F2.2 SAFETY GLASSES OR GOGGLES ARE REQUIRED WHEN
DRESSING ELECTRODES.
Supplemental Safety and Health
RESPITATORY: USE ONLY WITH NIOSH APPROVED RESPIRATOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH
29 CFR 1910.134. VENTILATION: FOR WELDING FOLLOW THE OSHA
REQUIREMENTS IN 29 CFR 1910 & ANSI Z49.1 SAFETY IN WELDING &
CUTTING. CONFINED SPACES REQUIRE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE VENTILATION.

Boiling Pt:=65.C, 149.F
Vapor Density:>1
Spec Gravity:0.91
Evaporation Rate & Reference:(BUTYL ACETATE=1): 4.5
Solubility in Water:SLIGHT
Appearance and Odor:CLOUDY/CLEAR LACQUER/KETONE SOLVENT (NAIL POLISH)

Stability Indicator/Materials to Avoid:YES
AVOID OXIDIZERS ESPECIALLY AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES, AVOID ELEVATED
TEMPERATURES, AVOID STRONG ACIDS, BROMINE TRIFLUORIDE, IODINE
PENTAFLUORIDE, AND MIXING LEAD OXIDE WITH TUNGSTEN DUST.
Stability Condition to Avoid:THORIUM ALLOYS ARE CHEMICALLY STABLE.
THORIUM ECAYS BY RADIOACTIVITY.
Hazardous Decomposition Products:NONE

Waste Disposal Methods:DISPOSE OF THE MATERIAL FOLLOWING ALL APPLICABLE
REGULATIONS, TUNGSTEN SCRAP AND DUST HAVE VALUE AND CAN BE
RECLAIMED.

Toxicological Information:FUMES AND GASES FROM THE WELDING & HIGH
TEMPERATURE CURING WILL DEPEND UPON COMBUSTION OF THE METAL BEING
WELDED, THE PROCESS, PROCEDURES, THE ELECTRODES USED, COATING (SUCH
AS LEAD BASED PAINTS), FIL LER METAL BEING USED, THE FKUX BEING
WELDED ENVIRONMENT MUST BE CONSIDERED CASE BY CASE. SEE MATERIAL
SAFETY DATA SHEE AND YOUR SAFETY DIRECTOR FOR ALL MATERIALS
INVOLVED IN A PARTICULAR OPERATION. TU NGSTEN & ZIRCONIA LISTED AS
EITHER A KNOWN OR SUSPECT CARCINOGEN BY NTP, IARC OR OSHA.

Disclaimer (provided with this information by the compiling agencies):
This information is formulated for use by elements of the Department
of Defense. The United States of America in no manner whatsoever,
expressly or implied, warrants this information to be accurate and
disclaims all liability for its use. Any person utilizing this
document should seek competent professional advice to verify and
assume responsibility for the suitability of this information to their
particular situation.