Full Public Reportacr-1720Apolymer

File No: NA/247 Date:29 May 1995

NATIONALINDUSTRIALCHEMICALSNOTIFICATIONANDASSESSMENTSCHEME

FULL PUBLIC REPORTACR-1720APOLYMER

ThisAssessmenthasbeencompiledinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheIndustrialChemicals(NotificationandAssessment)Act1989,andRegulations.ThislegislationisanActoftheCommonwealthofAustralia.TheNationalIndustrialChemicalsNotificationandAssessmentScheme(NICNAS)isadministeredbyWorksafeAustraliawhichalsoconductstheoccupationalhealthsafetyassessment.TheassessmentofenvironmentalhazardisconductedbytheDepartmentoftheEnvironment,Sport,andTerritoriesandtheassessmentofpublic healthisconductedbytheDepartmentofHumanServicesandHealth.

Forthepurposesofsubsection78(1)oftheAct,copiesofthisfullpublicreportmaybeinspectedbythepublicattheLibrary,WorksafeAustralia,92-94ParramattaRoad,Camperdown NSW2050,betweenthehoursof10.00a.m.and12.00noonand2.00

p.m.and4.00p.m.eachweekdayexceptonpublicholidays.

ForEnquiriespleasecontacttheAdministrationCoordinatorat:

StreetAddress:92ParramattaRdCamperdown,NSW2050,AUSTRALIAPostalAddress:GPOBox58,Sydney2001,AUSTRALIA

Telephone:(61)(02)565-9466FAX (61) (02) 565-9465

Director

ChemicalsNotificationandAssessment

NA/247

FULL PUBLIC REPORTACR-1720APOLYMER

1.APPLICANT

Courtaulds(Australia)PtyLtdof51McIntyreRd,Sunshine,Vic3020hassubmittedalimitednotificationforassessmentofACR-1720APolymer.

2.IDENTITY OF THE CHEMICAL

ACR-1720Apolymerisnotconsideredtobehazardousbasedonthenatureofthechemicalandthedataprovided. Thereforethechemicalname,CASnumber,molecularandstructuralformulae,andspecificendusehavebeenexemptedfrompublicationintheFullPublicReportandtheSummaryReport

Other name:ACR-1720A polymer

Trade name:Asthepolymerwillnotbemarketedbutwillonlybeusedasanintermediateinthemanufactureofindustrialcoatings,notradenamehasbeenassignedtoit.

Number-averagemolecularweight: / 13092
Weight-average molecular weight: / 39325
Maximum percentage of low molecular weight species (molecular weight < 1000): / 0.1%
Methodofdetectionanddetermination:

Infraredspectroscopy;nuclearmagneticresonancespectroscopy;pyrolysisGC/MSandgelpermeationchromatography

3.PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Thepolymerwillbeimportedasa30-60%(w/w)solutionin1-methoxy-2-propanoland1-ethoxy-2-propanol. Thesolventsare95%removedbyvacuumdistillationpriortoformulationofthepolymerintoanaqueousemulsion. Thepolymeritselfisneverisolated. Asaresultthereislimitedinformationregardingthepolymer’sphysico-chemicalproperties.

Appearance at 20°C and 101.3 kPa:viscous,clearlightyellowtoamberliquid(solventsolution)

Odour:thesolventsolutionhasaodourcharacteisticofthesolventandresidualmonomers

MeltingPoint/BoilingPoint:thepolymersoftensandflowsoverawide

temperaturerangeandisknowntodecomposebeforeboiling

Density:1180kg/m3at 25°C (ACR-1720A Polymer)

Vapour Pressure:polymeritselfisasolid

WaterSolubility:predictedtobeinsolubleonthebasisofcompositionandstructure

FlashPoint:notapplicable

FlammabilityLimits:notflammable

DecompositionTemperature:aboveabout300°Cthepolymerwillbeginto

thermallydegradepossiblyyieldingacridvapours

Reactivity/Stability:undernormalambientconditions,thepolymerandproductscontainingitareconsideredtobestable. ACR-1720A,thesolvent-containingpolymersolutionisacidicandwillreactwithalkalisandmetals. Thewater-containingintermediateformulationsandpaintformulationswillreactwithstrongalkalis,strongmineralacidsandoxidisingagents.

CommentsonPhysico-ChemicalProperties

Asthebackboneandmanyofthesidechainsofthepolymerarehydrophobic,highwaterinsolubilityisexpected.

Hydrolysisdetailscannotbeprovidedduetothelowsolubilityofthepolymer. Thepolymercontainsanumberofestergroupswhicharenotexpectedtohydrolyseunderenvironmentalconditions.

Partitioncoefficientcouldnotbemeasuredduetothelowwatersolubilityofthepolymer.

Adsorptiondesorptionhasnotbeenmeasuredbutduetothehighmolecularweightthemobilityofthepolymerisexpectedtobelow.

Thepolymercontainsasmallamountofcarboxylicacidgroupsexpectedtohavetypicalacidity.

4.PURITY OF THE CHEMICAL

Degreeofpurity:> 99%

Toxicimpurities:alltoxicimpuritiesareatlevels0.5%andare,therefore,notexpectedtorenderthepolymerhazardous

Non-toxicimpurities

(>1%byweight):none

Maximum content of

residual monomers:0.99%

Additives/Adjuvants:noneremaininginthenotifiedpolymerTheimportedformulationcontainsthefollowingsolvents:

Followingdistillationandmixingwithwatertoproduceanintermediatetobeusedasacomponentinfinishedcoatingproducts,thefollowingadditivesarepresentinadditiontothenotifiedpolymer:

. / Chemicalname:CASNo.:
Weight percentage: / water 7732-18-5
>60%
. / Chemicalname:Synonym:
CASNo.: / propyleneglycol,monoethylether1-ethoxy-2-propanol
1569-02-4
Weight percentage: / 2-10%

5.INDUSTRIAL USE

Thenotifiedpolymeristobeusedasafilm-formingpolymerforindustrialcoatings.

6.OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE

Thenotifiedpolymerwillbeimportedin200Ldrumsasa30-60%(w/w)solventsolutionatarateof1-10tonnesinthefirstyearrisingto10tonnesperyearbythefifthyear.

Theimportedpolymersolutionischargedtoaclosedreactorvesselviaapipelineundervacuum. Distillationat100Cundervacuumremoves95%ofthesolventfollowingwhichthepolymerformulationisneutralisedbymixinginaneutralisingagent. Waterisaddedasadiluenttoproduceanintermediatepolymerformulationwhichisusedtoformulatefinalcoatingproducts. Theintermediateformulationcontains25%ofthenotifiedpolymerandistransferredfromthereactorto200Ldrumsforstorage. Thereactorvesseliscleanedwithsolventwhichisthentransferredtoasolventrecoveryunitforcleaningandrecycling.

Whenrequiredthewater-basedintermediateformulationischargedtoanenclosedreactorvesselforformulationintoawater-basedpaint. Thefinalconcentrationofthenotifiedpolymerinthepaintis10%(w/w). Followingmixing,thepaintisfilteredduringtransferto200Ldrumspriortotransporttotheuser’ssiteatwhichthepaintispumped

intoanenclosedtemperature-controlledvessel. Applicationofthepaintisaccomplishedusingaself-containedextractedspraybooth.Likelylevelsofexposurearedisplayedintable 1.

Table1WorkerexposuretoACR-1720APolymerduringformulationanduse

Workers (number and

Nature of Work

Exposure (hrs/day)

Exposure (days/yr)

PhysicalForm

category)

REFORMULATION

reactor / . / charging / 4 / 2-5 / . / hot acrylic resin
operators / . / sampling / . / ambient
(30 - max) / . / testing / water-based
intermediate
paintplant / . / blendingof / 4 / 5-10 / ambientwater-
operators / paint / based
(30 - max) / . / collection of / intermediate,paint
QC / formulations

maintenancepersonnel(2)

samples

. breakdown

. repair

12-3ambientwater-based intermediate

laboratorytechnicians/ chemists/ development personnel (20)

. testing of QC

samples

. trouble-shooting

. productdevelopment

45-10formulations containingthenotifiedpolymer

APPLICATION

application/ curing operators(20

- max)

operationofpaint application andcuring process

systemfully automated solittleexposure anticipated

210paintformulations

Maintenance personnel(2)

repairandclean transfer lines, pumps, mixers etc.

1-2 (but variable), system automated

14

(system cleaned onceperyear)

paintformulations

laboratorytechnicians/ chemists(5)

testing of QC samples, trouble-

1210paintformulations

shooting

7.PUBLIC EXPOSURE

Thepotentialforpublicexposuretothenotifiedpolymerisexpectedtobelow. Thepolymerwillbeasmallcomponent(<10%w/winthefinalpaintproduct)ofpaintproductswhichwillbeusedonlyinindustrialapplications. Reformulationofthepolymerisexpectedtotakeplaceatoneindustrialsiteandthefinalpaintproductsareexpectedtobeusedatasingleindustrialsite. Furthermore,heatcuringcross-linksthepolymerintothepaintfilmrenderingiteffectivelyinert.

Inthecaseofaccidentalspillageduringtransportthepublicmaybeexposedtothenotifiedpolymer. Thisisminimisedbytherecommendedpracticesforstorageandtransportation. Emergencyproceduresforthecontainmentandcleanupofaccidentalspillsareavailableandshouldbefollowed.

8.ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE

.Release

Thenotifierhasidentifiedseveralpartsofthehandling,formulationandapplicationprocesswherereleasetotheenvironmentcouldoccur.

Releasestotheenvironmentwillbelimitedtothosethatoccurduringformulationandwhenthepaintcontainingthepolymerisapplied. Wastegeneratedduringformulationissenttolandfillorincineratedandisexpectedtobelessthan20kgpermonth. Ifaspilloccursduringformulationitwillbelimitedtoanon-sitesealedsurface(inmostcasesbunded)andcleanedupaccordingtotheMSDS.

Thepolymerisexpectedtobeusedbyonlyonemanufacturerandappliedinaspraybooth. Thesprayboothisanextractedself-containedunitwithawatercurtainandusesrecycledwater. Thewaterfromthesprayboothistreatedbyflocculation,whichwillremovemostofthewastepaint,withthe'clean'waterreturnedtothespraybooth. Solidresiduefromtheflotationtanks,expectedtobelessthan250kgpermonth(30%overspray),willbedisposedofbylandfillorincinerated.

Thepaintedarticlesarebakedtocurethepolymerintoapaintfilm. Thecuredpolymerwillbeeffectivelyinertandbedisposedofwiththearticles. Releasesofthecuredpolymerfromthecoatedarticleswillbediffuseandlimitedtosmallquantitiesofthecuredpolymer.

Duringtransportriskofenvironmentalreleaseislimitedtoaccidentswherethedrumscontainingthepolymerareruptured.

.Fate

AsACR-1760Aisapolymerwithlowwatersolubility,leachingfromlandfillsitesisnotexpected. Incinerationofthenotifiedsubstanceisexpectedtoproducewaterandoxidesofcarbonandnitrogen.

Themajorityofthenotifiedpolymerisnotexpectedtobereleasedtotheenvironmentuntilithasbeenfullycuredintoasolidpolymermatrix.Theresultantmatrixstructureshouldlimitthehydrolysisorbiodegradationofthepolymer. Bioaccumulationofthe

polymerisunlikelyduetothehighmolecularweight(13000)ofthepolymerevenbeforecuring.

9.EVALUATION OF TOXICOLOGICAL DATA

Toxicologicaldataarenotrequiredforpolymersofnumber-averagemolecularweight(NAMW) > 1000 according to theIndustrialChemicals(NotificationandAssessment)Act,1989andnodataweresubmittedforthenotifiedpolymer.

10.ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

Noecotoxicologicaldatawereprovided,whichisacceptableforpolymersofNAMW

1000accordingtotheAct.

11.ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD

Thepolymerisunlikelytopresentahazardtotheenvironmentatanystageofitsuseordisposal. Oftheoriginalquantityofpolymeremulsionimporteditisexpectedthatmostwillnotbereleasedfromtheprocessing/applicationsitesuntilithasbeencuredontothearticle. Theultimatefateofallcuredpolymerisnotknownbutmostlikelythemajoritywillbedisposedofbylandfill. Leachingofthecuredpolymerfromlandfillisnotexpectedduetothechemicalandphysicalbondingwhichoccursduringthesurfacecoatingprocess.

Anycuredpolymerthatmayberemovedfromthecoatedarticleswillbeinertanddiffusedover a wide area.

Anyuncuredpolymerwastegeneratedduringformulation/applicationwillbedisposedofbylandfillorincinerationandisexpectedtobeamaximumof270kgpermonth. Thisuncuredpolymerisnotexpectedtoposeanenvironmentalhazard.

12.ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETYEFFECTS

ThenotifiedpolymerhasaNAMW1000andthereforeisunlikelytobeabletocrossbiologicalmembranesandcauseadverseeffectsonhealth. Thelowlevelsoflowmolecularweightspecies(0.1%)andresidualmonomers(0.99%)areunlikelytorenderthepolymerhazardous(2).

Workerexposureduringpaintformulationandapplicationisminimisedbyisolationoftheprocessesinfixedareasofthemanufacturer’sandapplicator’ssites. Various

processesemployedinpaintmanufactureareconductedunderlocalexhaustventilationsuchasreactionvesselcharging,sampling,laboratorytestinganddrumfilling. Inaddition,transferstoandfromthereactionvesselareconductedusingenclosedlinessothatexposuretothenotifiedpolymerisexpectedtobelow. Furthermore,workersareexpectedtobeexposedforamaximumof4hoursperday,10daysperyear. Duringpaintapplication,exposureisalsoexpectedtobelowsincetheprocessisfullyautomatedandenclosedandtheconcentrationofpolymerinthepaintis10%.

Sincethenotifiedpolymershouldnotpresentahealthhazardundernormalconditionsandexposureisexpectedtobelow,theriskofadverseoccupationalandpublichealtheffectsduringtransport,storage,reformulationandapplicationisexpectedtobeminimal.

13.RECOMMENDATIONS

TominimiseoccupationalexposuretoACR-1720APolymerthefollowingguidelinesandprecautionsshouldbeobserved:

.ifengineeringcontrolsandworkpracticesareinsufficienttoreduceexposuretoasafelevel,thenpersonalprotectivedeviceswhichconformtoandareusedinaccordancewithAustralianStandards(AS)foreyeprotection(AS1336,AS1337) (3,4)andimpermeablegloves(AS2161)(5)shouldbeworn. Overallsandprotectivefoowearalsoshouldbeworn;

.spillsandwasteshouldbecollectedanddisposedofinaccordancewithLocalandStateGovernmentregulationsandwiththerecommendationsoutlinedintheMaterial Safety Data Sheets (MSDS);

.goodpersonalhygieneshouldbepractised;and

.copiesoftheMSDSshouldbeeasilyaccessibletoemployees.

14.MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

TheMSDSforACR-1720AandtheaqueousformulationintermediateACR-1720wereprovidedinWorksafeAustraliaformat(6).

TheseMSDSwereprovidedbyCourtaulds(Australia)PtyLtdaspartoftheirnotificationstatement.Theyarereproducedhereasamatterofpublicrecord.TheaccuracyofthisinformationremainstheresponsibilityofCourtaulds(Australia)PtyLtd.

15.REQUIREMENTS FOR SECONDARY NOTIFICATION

Under theIndustrialChemicals(NotificationandAssessment)Act1989, secondarynotificationofACR-1720APolymershallberequiredifanyofthecircumstancesstipulatedundersubsection64(2)oftheActarise. Nootherspecificconditionsareprescribed.

16.REFERENCES

1.SaxN.I.andLewisR.J.,1989, ‘DangerousPropertiesofIndustrialMaterials’,VanNostrandReinhold,NewYork.

2.NationalOccupationalHealthandSafetyCommission1994‘Approved Criteria forClassifyingHazardousSubstances’,[NOHSC:1008(1994)],AGPS,Canberra.

3.StandardsAustralia1982, ‘AustralianStandard1336-1982 EyeprotectionintheIndustrialEnvironment’,StandardsAssociationofAustraliaPubl.,Sydney.

4.StandardsAustralia1984,‘AustralianStandard1337-1984 EyeProtectorsforIndustrialApplications’, StandardsAssociationofAustraliaPubl.,Sydney.

5.StandardsAustralia1978,‘AustralianStandard2161-1978 IndustrialSafetyGlovesandMittens(excludingElectricalandMedicalGloves)’, StandardsAssociationofAustraliaPubl.,Sydney.

6.NationalOccupationalHealthandSafetyCommission,1990.,‘GuidanceNotefortheCompletionofaMaterialSafetyDataSheet’,2nd.edition,AGPS,Canberra, Australia.1

1 ThisGuidanceNote,towhichanMSDSmustconforminaccordancewiththeAct,hasbeensupersededbyWorksafeAustralia’sNationalCodeofPracticeforthePreparationofMaterialSafetyDataSheets(March1994)publishedbytheAustralianGovernmentPublishingService.