Methyl Iscoyanate

1. Methyl Isocyanate
Group 3
•Ng Geok Ting
•Nian Yue
•Anh
•Syahmi

2. Methyl Isocyanate is a volatile, colourless liquid
with a strong, sharp odor that causes tears.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES :
•Boiling point: 39°C
•Melting point: -80°C
•Relative density (water = 1): 0.96
•Solubility in water, g/100 ml at 20°C: reaction
•Vapour pressure, kPa at 20°C: 54
Identification

3. •Relative vapour density (air = 1): 2
•Relative density of the vapour/air-mixture at
20°C (air = 1): 1.44

4. • Health
• Fire
• Environmental
Hazards of methyl isocyanate

5. Health Hazards
•Acute effects
•Chronic effects
•Reproductive and developmental effects
•Cancer risks

6. Fire hazards
•Flammable liquid
•Cannot use water to put out the fire
•Poisonous gas produce in the fire
•Vapors may travel to source of ignition and
flash back
•Vapor heavier than air and may travel a
distance to cause a fire or explosion.

7. Environmental hazard
•Bacterial contamination of drinking water
•Air pollution
•Contamination of food

8. Fire data of methyl isocyanate
•At temperatures below 39ºC (102ºF)
•Very flammable colorless liquid that readily
evaporates when exposed to air.
•Gaseous methyl isocyanate is slightly heavier
than air.
• Release Hydrogen cyanide

9. Explosive Data of Methyl
Isocyanate
•Very explosive – vol% in air: 5.3-26
•Flash point: -7°C c.c.
•Auto-ignition temperature: 535°C
•Reacts violently with fire extinguishing agents
such as water and hydrated agents

10. First Aid Measures
• Fire: Alcohol-resistant foam, dry sand, powder,
carbon dioxide. NO hydrous agents.
•Explosion : In case of fire: cool drums, by spraying
with water but avoid contact of the substance
with water. Combat fire from a sheltered position.
•Inhalation: Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position.
And give artificial respiration.

11. •Skin: Remove polluted clothes. Wash skin with
water or shower.
•Eye: First rinse with water for several minutes,
then go to see a doctor.
•Ingestion: Wash mouth. Do not induce
vomiting, then drink plenty of water.

12. Application of Methyl Isocyanate
• Pesticides
• polyurethane foam
• plastics

13. Building Industry
• Sandwich panels
• Pre-insulated pipes
• Moulded or cut 1/2 pipe sectionals
• Spray foam
• Rigid slabs
• Supports for manufacture of lightweight concrete and pre-fabricated walls /
slabs
Thermal Insulation For Food Industry
• Refrigerated show cases
• Domestic and commercial refrigerators & deep freeze chests
• Insulation of fishing vessel hull & storage areas
• Ice boxes for commercial and domestic purposes
• Refrigerated containers
• Refrigerated trucks / transport

14. Thermal Insulation For Hot / Cold Purposes
• Hot water heater tanks
• Insulated drink and food containers
• Temperature controlled rooms / vessels
• Pipelines / valves
Buoyancy & Void Filling
• Buoys
• Pontoons
• Filling of voids to prevent pests and vermin
Other Applications
• Air filter rims

15. Incident- Bhopal Disaster
• The worst industrial tradegy
How was it happened?
• Occurred from Union Carbide India plant,
Bhopal, India on midnight 2
nd
-3
rd
of Dec, 1984
•42 tons of MIC- a super poisonous chemical-
was contained in only one tank (tank 610)
•Water cleaning of pipes entered into the MIC
tank 610 caused a violently huge reaction.

16. •More than 3800 people died immediately and
quietly in the early morning the incident took
place, others victim had injuries
•8,000 victims died within 2 weeks, 15000 died
in the first month
• Up to now, more than 520,000 people have
been affected by the disaster
•Damage estimated:

18. Causes:
•Technological errors: amount of MIC contained in
the tank was far exceeded the allowed safety limit;
many valves and lines were in poor condition;
safety system was inadequate and safety
regulations were ignored …
•Organizational and operational errors: they use
MIC instead of a less toxic ( but more expensive )
material; poor education of operators and
shortage of supervisors, workers;
•Legal errors: the chemical plant was allowed to
locate in the heart of a densely populated area.

20. How do you as a Logistician would find the
MSDS useful in your job in the future?
Provide Instructions For:
•potential hazard prevention
•first aid
•emergency response
•safe storage
•physical property
•environmental risk associated with a particular
material.
•properly label substances and hazard symbols

21. The End
Reference :
http://www.apu.com.sg/en/rigidform.aspx
http://www.intox.org/databank/documents/chemical/methylis/eics0004.htm
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/ME/methyl_isocyanate.html
http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1270.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster#cite_note-Eckerman2001-0
http://www.netphotograph.com/article.php?id=6

22. •http://www.grazian-archive.com/governing/bhopal/Bhopal_C6.html
•http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Pollution/bhopal.htm
•http://www.green-web.org/zt/bhopal/pix.html
•http://www.mcphate.com/clips/bhopal.htm