MSDS Argon
MSDS Argon
MSDS Argon
*Call emergency numbers 24 hours a day only for spills, leaks, fire, exposure, or accidents involving this
product. For routine information, contact your supplier or Praxair sales representative.
2. Hazards Identification
Emergency Overview
CAUTION! High-pressure gas. Can cause rapid suffocation. May cause dizziness and drowsiness. Self-
contained breathing apparatus may be required by rescue workers.
INHALATION: Asphyxiant. Effects are due to lack of oxygen. Moderate concentrations may cause
headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, excitation, excess salivation, vomiting, and
unconciousness. Lack of oxygen can kill.
A knowledge of the available toxicology information and of the physical and chemical properties of the material
suggests that overexposure is unlikely to aggravate existing medical conditions.WORKING WITH WELDING AND
CUTTING MAY CREATE ADDITIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS.
FUMES AND GASES can be dangerous to your health and may cause serious lung disease.*
Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe fumes and gases caused by the process. Use enough ventilation, local
exhaust, or both to keep fumes and gases from your breathing zone and the general area. The type and amount of
fumes and gases depend on the equipment and supplies used. Possibly dangerous materials may be found in fluxes,
coatings, gases, metals etc. Get a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for every material used. Air samples can be used
to find out what respiratory protection is needed. Short term overexposure to fumes may result in discomfort such as
dizziness, nausea, or dryness or irritation of nose, throat, or eyes.
*NOTES TO PHYSICIAN:
Acute: Gases, fumes, and dusts may cause irritation to the eyes, lungs, nose, and throat. Some toxic gases
associated with welding and related processes may cause pulmonary edema, asphyxiation, and death. Acute
overexposure may include signs and symptoms such as watery eyes, nose and throat irritation, headache, difficulty
breathing frequent coughing, or chest pains.
Chronic: Protracted inhalation of air contaminants may lead to their accumulation in the lungs, a condition which may
be seen as dense areas on chest x-rays. The severity of c hange is proportional to the length of exposure. The changes
seen are not necessarily associated with symptoms or signs of reduced lung function or disease. In addition, the
changes on x-rays may be caused by non-work related factors such as smoking, etc.
PROTECTION OF FIREFIGHTERS:
CAUTION! High-pressure gas. Asphxiant. Effects are due to lack of oxygen. Evacuate all personnel from danger area.
Immediately deluge cylinders with water from maximum distance until cool; then move them away from fire
area if without risk. Shutoff leak if without risk. Arcs and sparks can ignite combustion. Self-contained
breathing apparatus may be required by rescue workers. Refer to American National Standard Z49.1 "Safety
in Welding and Cutting" for fire prevention information during the use of welding and allies procedures.
Heat of fire can build pressure in cylinder and cause it to rupture. No part of cylinder should be subjected to a
temperature higher than 52 C. Cylinders containing this mixture are equipped with a pressure relief device. (Exceptions
may exist where authorized by TDG Regulations.).
SENSITIVITY TO IMPACT:
Avoid impact against container.
Environmental Precautions:
Slowly release into atmosphere. Discard any product, residue, disposable container, or liner in an environmentally
acceptable manner, in full compliance with federal, provincial, and local regulations. If necessary, call your local supplier
for assistance.
For additional information on storage and handling, refer to Compressed Gas Association (CGA) pamphlet P-1, Safe
Handling of Compressed Gases in Containers, available from the CGA. Refer to section 16 for the address and phone
number along with a list of other available publications.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN STORAGE:
Store and use with adequate ventilation. Firmly secure cyli nders upright to keep them from falling or being knocked
over. Screw valve protection cap firmly in place by hand. Store only where temperature will not exceed 52 C. Store full
and empty cylinders separately. Use a first-in, first-out inventory system to prevent storing full cylinders for long periods.
Fumes and gases cannot be classified simply. The compostion and quantity of both are dependent upon the metal being
worked and the process, procedure, equipment, and supplies used. Other conditions which also influence the
composition and quantity of the fumes and gases to which workers may be exposed include: coatings on the metal beign
worked(such as paint, plating, or galvanizing), the number of workers and the volume of the work area, the quality and
amount of ventilation, the position of the worker's head with respect to the fume plume, as well as the presence of
contaminants int he atmosphere (such as chlorinated hydrocarbon vapours from cleaning and degreasing activities). One
recommended way to determine the composition and quantity of fumes and gases to which the workers are exposed is
to tkae and air sample from inside the worker's helmet if worn or in the worker's breathing zone. See ANSI/AWSF1.1,
availbale from the Amercan Welding Society, 550 N.W. Le Jeune Rd. Miami, FL 33126. Read and understand the
manufacturer's instructions and the precautionary label on the product. See American national Standard Z49.1, "Safety
in Welding and Cutting" published by the American Society.
RECOMMENDED PUBLICATIONS:
Additional information on storage, handling, and use of this product is provided in NFPA 55: Standard for the Storage,
Use, and Handling of Compressed and Liquefied Gases in Portable Cylinders, published by the National Fire
Protection Association.
See also Praxair publication P-14-153, Guidelines for Handling Gas Cylinders and Containers. Obtain from your local
supplier.
8. Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
VENTILATION/ENGINEERING CONTROLS:
LOCAL EXHAUST: Use a local exhaust system, if necessary, to maintain an adequate supply
of oxygen in the worker's breathing zone. Adequate ventilation must keep
worker exposure below applicable exposure limits for fumes, gases, and
other by-products of welding with argon.
SPECIAL: None.
OTHER: None.
PERSONAL PROTECTION:
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: Use fume respirator or air supplied respiator when working in
confined space or where local exhaust or ventilation does not
keep exposure below TLV. Select in accordance with provincial
regulations, local bylaws or guidelines. Selection should also be
based on the current CSA standard Z94.4, "Selection, Care and
Use of Respirators". Respirators should also be approved by
NIOSH and MSHA.
EYE PROTECTION: Wear goggles with filter lens. Provide protective screens and
goggles, if necessary to protect others.
OTHER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT: Metatarsal shoes for cylinder handling. Protective clothing where needed.
Cuffless trousers should be worn outside the shoes. Select in accordance
with the current CSA standard Z195, "Protective Foot Wear" and any
provincial regulations, local bylaws or guidelines.
BOILING POINT -185.9°C (-302.6°F) VAPOUR PRESSURE MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 39.95 g/mole
Not applicable.
LIQUID ( Water = 1)
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.38 g/ml @ 21.1C EVAPORATION RATE Not available. COEFFICIENT OF Not applicable.
WATER/OIL
VAPOUR (Butyl Acetate=1): DISTRIBUTION:
(air = 1)
VAPOUR DENSITY: 0.0016 g/ml @ 21.1C % VOLATILES BY 100% (v/v). ODOUR THRESHOLD: Odourless.
VOLUME:
APPEARANCE & ODOUR: Colourless. Odourless.
Cylinders should be transported in a secure position, in a well-ventilated vehicle. Cylinders transported in an enclosed,
non-ventilated compartment of a vehicle can present serious safety hazards.
Ask your supplier about free Praxair safety literature as referred to in this MSDS and on the label for this product. Further
information about this product can be found in the following pamphlets published by the Compressed Gas Association,
Inc. (CGA), 4221 Walney Road, 5th Floor, Chantilly, VA 20151-2923, Telephone (703) 788-2700, Fax (703) 961-1831,
website: www.cganet.com.
AV-1 Safe Handling and Storage of Compressed Gas
G-11.1 Commodity Specification for Argon
P-1 Safe Handling of Compressed Gases in Containers
P-14 Accident Prevention in Oxygen-Rich, Oxygen-Deficient Atmosphere
SB-2 Oxygen-Deficient Atmospheres
V-1 Compressed Gas Cylinder Valve Inlet and Outlet Connections
V-7 Standard Method of Determining Cylinder Valve Outlet Connections for Industrial Gas Mixtures
--- Handbook of Compressed Gases, Fourth Edition
Praxair asks users of this product to study this MSDS and become aware of product hazards and safety information. To
promote safe use of this product, a user should (1) notify employees, agents, and contractors of the information in this
MSDS and of any other known product hazards and safety information, (2) furnish this information to each purchaser of
the product, and (3) ask each purchaser to notify its employees and customers of the product hazards and safety
information.
PREPARATION INFORMATION:
Praxair Canada Inc. requests the users of this product to study this Material Data Sheet (MSDS) and become aware of
product hazards and safety information. To promote safe use of this product, a user should (1) notify its employees,
agents and contractors of the information on this MSDS and any product hazards and safety nformation, (2) furnish this
same information to each of its customers for the product, and (3) request such customers to notify their employees and
customers for the product of the same product hazards and safety information.
Other trademarks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Praxair Canada Inc.
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Suite 1200
Mississauga, ON L5B 1M2