Product Safety Summary

N-Methyl-Pyrrolidone

This Product Safety Summary is intended to provide a general overview of the chemical

substance. The information on the Summary is basic information and is not intended to provide

emergency response information, medical information or treatment information. The summary

should not be used to provide in-depth safety and health information. In-depth safety and health

information can be found on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the chemical substance.





Chemical Identity

Abbreviation:           NMP



CAS Number:             872-50-4



Formula:                C5H9NO



Common Names:           N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone

                        1-Methyl- 2-pyrrolidone

                        Methylpyrrolidone







Product Overview

    �   N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) is a slowly evaporating liquid with low viscosity and excellent

        solvency power.

    �   NMP is colorless, has a faint amine odor and is soluble in water and conventional organic

        solvents.

    �   NMP is used in a wide range of industrial applications, including process chemicals,

        engineering plastics, coatings, agricultural chemicals, electronics, paint stripping and

        cleaning, adhesives and pigment dispersions.

    �   Although NMP is used in industrial chemical processes, consumers may potentially come

        into contact with NMP through the use of certain commercially available products, such

        as certain paint removers or cleaning agents.

    �   NMP is classified as a combustible liquid and will sustain a fire, when ignited.

    �   Like any chemical, NMP can create hazards if handled carelessly. All persons associated

        with the transportation, storage or handling of NMP (or products containing NMP) must

        understand their hazards. This includes training in the recommended normal and

        emergency handling procedures.

    �   The primary hazards of NMP are skin contact causing irritation, redness or dermatitis and

        inhalation of aerosols causing respiratory irritation. No airborne limits have been

        established for NMP vapor concentrations in the work environment by Occupational

        Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) or American Conference of Governmental

        Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has

        established a Workplace Environmental Exposure Level (WEEL) 8-hr time-weighted

        average (TWA) of 10 ppm (skin). The skin notation indicates that cutaneous exposure to

        NMP liquid and vapor can contribute significantly to the total uptake of NMP by the body.

    �   For further safety and health information, the current Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

        should be used for this substance.









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Physical/Chemical Properties

    �   NMP is a clear, colorless, low viscosity liquid with a faint amine odor.

    �   NMP is highly polar and for this reason it is used as a general purpose organic solvent.

    �   The specific gravity of NMP is 1.03 and is denser than water.

    �   The boiling point of NMP is 204.3°C (399.7°F) and the freezing point is -23.6°C (-10.5°F).

        The flash point of NMP is 91°C (196°F), which is high compared to most other organic

        solvents. It is a combustible liquid.

    �   Compared to other organic solvents, the vapor pressure of NMP is relatively low and

        concentrations in the air will be lower with NMP than with other organic solvents.

    �   NMP is miscible with conventional organic solvents, water and certain organic

        monomers. Certain resins and plastics are also soluble in NMP.





Health Information

Acute Hazards

NMP exhibits low toxicity by all routes of exposure. Due to its low vapor pressure, skin exposure

represents the primary hazard in most applications. Workers must be properly instructed and

supervised in the handling of NMP.



Effects on Respiratory System:

Exposure to NMP aerosol droplets may result in respiratory tract irritation.



Effects on Eyes:

Exposure to NMP may result in moderate eye irritation and may cause temporary corneal

clouding.



Effects on Skin:

Skin contact with NMP may result in mild irritation and prolonged contact may cause redness and

dermatitis.



Effects on Ingestion:

Ingestion may result in irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.



Chronic Hazards

NMP may adversely affect the developing fetus based on animal data. While whole body

inhalation studies have shown developmental effects in rodents, these effects occur only at very

high NMP vapor concentrations and in the presence of maternal toxicity.



At high doses, NMP has caused liver tumors in mice. These results are not considered relevant

to humans given the negative results in other test systems and the high doses required to

produce effects in mice. Based on the results from a number of long-term carcinogenicity studies

and short term tests, there is no indication that NMP itself is carcinogenic.



Extensive toxicology data exist for NMP; refer to the MSDS for the most up-to-date information.





Environmental Information

NMP is nearly non-toxic to aquatic life and is readily degraded by organisms present in typical

wastewater treatment plants.









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Additional Hazard Information

Because NMP is combustible, care must be taken when handling it to avoid exposure to flames

and other sources of ignition.



The following safety recommendations must be observed:

   � Store in an area designed for combustible liquids.

   � Specify proper electrical equipment and adequate grounding for static electricity.

   � Maintain adequate ventilation in all work areas

   � Provide adequate firefighting equipment, including automatic sprinklers, in work and

         storage areas.



NMP samples are stored safely in clear glass bottles or steel cans with sufficient vapor space to

allow for thermal expansion. Bottles should be stored in a temperature-controlled environment.

Polyethylene cap liners will prevent the breakdown of coated caps or liners. Electronic grade

NMP samples should be stored in high density polyethylene bottles to avoid leaching of

elemental components from glass.





Exposure Potential

Consumers may be exposed to NMP during use of certain NMP-containing products. Due to its

low vapor pressure, absorption through the skin represents the most likely and potentially the

most significant route of exposure to NMP under most known consumer use conditions. This is

particularly true if NMP were to be used in cosmetics or other personal care products. BASF

strongly recommends that NMP should not be used in cosmetic applications.



Workplace exposure should be limited by the use of engineering controls, such as ventilation and

hoods. For emergency situations and some specially controlled areas, personal protective

equipment, such as respirators, may be employed. In general, skin and eye exposure to organic

solvents, such as NMP, are prevented through the use of protective eye and face equipment and

impermeable gloves and clothing.



Regulations involving hazardous chemicals are continually evolving and thus exposure guidelines

are reviewed regularly and modified whenever new information dictates a change. It is important

to be aware of the current legislative requirements.





Risk Management

The potential hazards associated with NMP can be avoided if workers are adequately instructed

and supervised on the proper procedures for handling NMP.



Every worker should be trained to realize that exposure to a hazardous chemical requires

immediate washing of affected areas using large amounts of soap and water, and that immediate

attention may markedly decrease the severity of any health effects.



Properly designed emergency showers and eyewash fountains should be placed in convenient

locations wherever NMP is used. All employees should know the location and operation of this

equipment. All equipment must be frequently inspected to make sure they are in proper working

condition.



Because NMP is an eye irritant, chemical splash goggles should be worn when handling it. If

NMP enters the eye, flush with water for at least 15 minutes, and consult a physician.









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Gloves of butyl rubber and FEP Teflon® provide the best resistance to NMP. Following use,

gloves should be rinsed and discarded. Butyl rubber aprons may be used for splash protection;

however, the PVC coatings found on most protective clothing dissolve rapidly in NMP.



If vapors or mists are generated, wear a NIOSH/MSHA approved organic vapor/mist respirator.



If skin contact does occur, the affected area should be thoroughly flushed with water to prevent

irritation, followed by moisturizing with a protective ointment.



If NMP is swallowed, dilute with plenty of water, induce vomiting immediately, and consult a

physician.



Overexposure to NMP vapors can bring about nausea, headache or dizziness. Move the person

to fresh air, aid in breathing, if needed, and consult a physician.



If using an NMP-containing product in the home, all instructions and precautions must be read,

understood and followed. Chemical-resistant gloves should be worn. It should only be used

where adequate ventilation exists and must never be used around open flames or other ignition

sources.





Federal/Science Findings

U.S Department of Labor � Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

      http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_254480.html



American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)

      http://www.acgih.org



National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

      http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/organsolv/



Contact Information

        http://www.basf.com



MSDS

        http://worldaccount.basf.com/wa/PublicMSDS~en_US/Search



References



N-Methylpyrrolidone Biodegradability, BASF Corporation, 1998

N-Methylpyrrolidone Storage and Handling, BASF Corporation, 1998





IMPORTANT: While the data and information contained herein are presented in good faith

and believed to be accurate, it is provided for your guidance only. No warranties of any

kind, either express or implied, are made regarding the data or information provided.

Further, it is expressly understood that the data and information furnished by BASF

hereunder are given gratis and BASF assumes no obligation or liability for the data and

information given, all such data and information being given and accepted at your risk.









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