INCOFOAM 庐 High Temp (NiFeCrAl)
Hazardous Ingredients
PEL1 mg/m3 TLV2 mg/m3
Hazardous Ingredients Typical Analysis C.A.S. No
Vale Nickel (Ni) 50 % 7440-02-0 1 1.5*
Inco Iron (Fe) 22 % 7439-89-6 10 5
Chromium 22 % 7440-47-3 1.0 0.5
Aluminum 6% 7429-90-5 15 10
Material *As inhalable fraction
Physical and Chemical Data
Thin sheets of grey metallic, porous foam.
Safety Physical Hazards
Not applicable.
Data Health Hazards
As shipped, metal foam is not inhalable. However, cutting, grinding or burning produce some dust or fume.
Sheet Nickel
LD50 ORAL RAT >9000 mg/kg
Inhalation: The National Toxicology Program has listed nickel as reasonably anticipated to
be a carcinogen based on the production of injection site tumors. The
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found there was
inadequate evidence that metallic nickel is carcinogenic to humans but since
there was sufficient evidence that it is carcinogenic to animals, IARC concluded
that metallic nickel is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). In 1997, the
ACGIH categorized elemental nickel as: A5 "Not Suspected as a Human
Carcinogen". Epidemiological studies of workers exposed to nickel powder and
to dust and fume generated in the production of nickel alloys and of stainless
steel have not indicated the presence of a significant respiratory cancer hazard.
Evidence for the association of nickel compound exposures and cancer risk
comes mainly from workers in now obsolete nickel refining operations where
very high concentrations of airborne nickel, mostly present as oxidic or sub-
sulphidic species at up to 100mg/m3 or more, were associated with excess
nasal and lung cancers.
The inhalation of nickel powder has not resulted in an increased incidence of
malignant lung tumors in rodents. Repeated intratracheal instillation of nickel
powder produced an increased incidence of malignant lung tumors in rats.
Repeated intratracheal instillation of nickel powder did not produce an increased
incidence of malignant lung tumors in hamsters when administered at the
maximum tolerated dose. Single intratracheal instillations of nickel powder in
hamsters at doses near the LD50 produced an increased incidence of fibro
sarcomas, mesotheliomas and habdomyo sarcomas.
Inhalation of nickel powder at concentrations 15 times the TLV irritated the
respiratory tract in rodents.
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Inhalation of nickel may induce asthma. This effect is rare; it has been reported
in welders where exposures to nickel are often mixed with other chemical
substances. Persons with a known history of nickel sensitive asthma should
avoid such contact.
Skin Contact: Prolonged and intimate contact with metallic nickel may cause irritation to the
skin and nickel sensitivity, which may result in allergic skin rashes.
Vale One case has been reported of asthma induced by external exposure to a
nickel-containing skin clip and by skin contact with nickel.
Inco Wounds: Nickel metal powder has caused tumors at the site of injection in rodents.
However, studies do not suggest a significant risk for humans from nickel-
containing prostheses.
Material Ingestion: The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
concluded there is no evidence that nickel and its inorganic compounds are
carcinogenic when ingested. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
affirmed that nickel is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct human
Safety food ingredient.
Preexisting Conditions: Prolonged and intimate skin contact can cause an allergic skin rash in previously
sensitized individuals.
Data Reproductive Toxicity: Animal experiments indicate that soluble nickel ingestion causes adverse effects
on fetal development at a threshold oral exposure of 2.2 mg/ Ni/kg/day by
pregnant rats. Data are insufficient to determine if this effect occurs in humans
and no regulatory agency has classified soluble forms of nickel as reproductive
Sheet risks for humans.
Chromium (Cr)
Inhalation: Chromium metal is relatively nontoxic. Chromium metal and insoluble salts are
said to be involved in fibrosis of the lungs. When the metal is heated to a high
temperature, fumes produced may be damaging to the lungs if inhaled.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has conducted that the
evidence for carcinogenicity in humans and animals is inadequate for chromium
metal and trivalent chromium compounds, but sufficient for hexavalent
chromium compounds. Fumes from welding chromium-containing stainless
steel or certain chromium-containing rods can trigger eczematous eruptions on
the palms of the hands of chromium-sensitized individuals.
Iron (Fe)
Inhalation: Inhalation of the excessive oxide fumes or dusts can lead to irritation of the
respiratory tract. Prolonged inhalation of iron oxide for periods of 6 to 10 years
is known to cause siderosis, which appears to be a benign pneumoconiosis.
Eye contact: Prolonged eye contact with the metal dust could cause rust brown colored spots
forming around the particles and if left for several years, permanent damage
could result.
Precautions for safe storage, handling and use
If user operations generate dust, mist or fume, use ventilation to keep exposure to airborne nickel below the
exposure limit. If ventilation alone cannot so control exposure, use NIOSH-approved respirators selected
according to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134. Maintain airborne nickel levels as low as possible.
Avoid repeated skin contact. Wear suitable gloves. Wash skin thoroughly after handling. Launder clothing
and gloves as needed. Do not store near acids. Like other metals, nickel can react with acids to liberate
hydrogen gas, which can form explosive mixtures in air.
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Finely-divided nickel metal may react explosively or incandescently with substances such as ammonium
nitrate, perchlorates, phosphorous, etc. Under special conditions nickel can react with carbon monoxide in
reducing atmospheres to form nickel carbonyl, Ni(CO)4, a toxic gas.
Spill, leak and disposal procedure
If metal dust accumulates where nickel foam is handled, collect it by wet sweeping or by vacuuming with
the vacuum exhaust passing through a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter if the exhaust is
discharged into the workplace. Wear appropriate NIOSH-approved respirators if collection and disposal of
Vale dust is likely to cause the concentration of airborne contaminants to exceed the exposure limits.
Inco Metal-containing waste is normally collected to recover nickel values. Should waste disposal be deemed
necessary follow EPA and local regulations?
Emergency and first aid procedures
Material If exposure to nickel carbonyl is suspected, seek medical attention immediately.
For skin rashes, seek medical attention.
Cleanse wounds thoroughly to remove any particles.
Safety SARA Section 313 Supplier Notification
This product contains the following chemical(s) subject to the reporting requirements of Section 313 of the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 and of 40 CFR 372:
Data Nickel, Aluminium, Chromium
Refer to the Hazardous Ingredients section of this MSDS for the appropriate CAS numbers and percent by
weight.
Sheet INTERNATIONAL NICKEL INC.
Park 80 West, Plaza Two
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
(201) 368-4800
Disclaimer: The information in this Data Sheet is provided in good faith and is accurate to Vale Inco鈥檚
best knowledge and belief but except as implied by law, no representation or warranty is
given in relation to the information and Vale Inco accepts no liability.
Footnotes:
庐 Trademark of the Inco family of companies.
1 OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit
2 Threshold Limit Value of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
3 Describes possible health hazards of the product supplied. If user operations change it to other
chemical forms, whether as end products, intermediates or fugitive emissions, the possible health
hazards of such forms must be determined by the user.
Prepared by:
Vale Inco Limited
200 Bay St., Royal Bank Plaza
Suite 1600, South Tower, PO Box 70
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2K2
Product Stewardship (416) 361-7801
MSDS available online at www.valeinco.com
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