Sodium MetaSilicate
Na₂SiO₃.9H₂O

Composition on Ingredients

Emergency Overview: White, odorless, granular powder. Corrosive to eyes, skin, and digestive tract. Dust corrosive to respiratory tract. Due to high pH of product, release into surface water is harmful to aquatic life. Noncombustible. Reacts with acids and some organics.

Potential Acute Health Effects:

Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive), of eye contact (corrosive). The amount of tissue damage depends on length of contact.

Eye contact can result in corneal damage or blindness. Skin contact can produce inflammation and blistering. Inhalation of dust will produce irritation to gastro-intestinal or respiratory tract, characterized by burning, sneezing and coughing. Severe over-exposure can produce lung damage, choking, unconsciousness or death. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering.

Potential Chronic Health Effects:

The substance may be toxic to mucous membranes, skin, eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated exposure of the eyes to a low level of dust can produce eye irritation. Repeated skin exposure can produce local skin destruction, or dermatitis. Repeated inhalation of dust can produce varying degree of respiratory irritation or lung damage.

First Aid Measures

Eye Contact:
Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Cold water may be used. Get medical attention immediately.
Skin Contact:
In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Cold water may be used.Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention immediately.
Serious Skin Contact:
Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream. Seek medical attention.
Inhalation:
If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention immediately.
Serious Inhalation:
Evacuate the victim to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Ingestion:
Do Not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If large quantities of this material are swallowed, call a physician immediately. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.
WARNING: It may be hazardous to the person providing aid to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when the inhaled material is toxic, infectious or corrosive. Seek immediate medical attention.

Fire Fighting Measures

Flammability of the Product: Non-flammable.
Auto-Ignition Temperature: Not applicable.
Flash Points: Not applicable.
Flammable Limits: Not applicable.
Products of Combustion: Not available.
Fire Hazards in Presence of Various Substances: Not applicable.
Explosion Hazards in Presence of Various Substances:
Risks of explosion of the product in presence of mechanical impact: Not available.
Risks of explosion of the product in presence of static discharge: Not available.
Fire Fighting Media and Instructions: Not applicable.
Special Remarks on Fire Hazards: Sodium metasilicate ignites in Fluorine
Special Remarks on Explosion Hazards: Not available.
Fire-fighting equipment: The following protective equipment for fire fighters is
recommended when this material is present in the area of a fire: chemical goggles, body-covering protective clothing, chemical resistant gloves, and rubber boots.

Accidental Release Measures

Small Spill:
Use appropriate tools to put the spilled solid in a convenient waste disposal container. If necessary: Neutralize the residue with a dilute solution of acetic acid.
Large Spill:
Corrosive solid. Stop leak if without risk. Do not get water inside container. Do not touch spilled material. Use water spray to reduce vapors. Prevent entry into sewers, basements or confined areas; dike if needed. Call for assistance on disposal. Neutralize the residue with a dilute solution of acetic acid.

Sodium metasilicate is used in fireproofing mixtures; in laundry, dairy, metal, and floor cleaning; in deinking recycled paper products in the pulp and paper industry; in washing carbonated drink bottles; in insecticides, fungicides, and antimicrobial compounds; and as a chemical intermediate for silica gel catalysts, an additive in soaps and synthetic detergents, an ingredient in adhesives, a bleaching aid, and a boiler compound. Combined with other salts such as sodium bicarbonate, it can be applied to aluminum as a paint stripper.

In field experiments, compounds composed of sodium metasilicate, an alkali metal carbonate, and a preservative have been used as desiccants for forage crops. In detergents, sodium metasilicate has been used as a precipitating builder for calcium and magnesium.

In cosmetic formulations, it is a chelating agent and corrosion inhibitor; 77% of 168 formulations was used in hair dyes and colors . It has also been used in flotation materials at fruit packing plants . Its gel-forming property has been employed in soil stabilization.

The pentahydrate form is considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in washing mixtures for fruits and vegetables, in sanitizing solutions for food-contact surfaces, in boiler water, as a denuding agent for tripe, as a hog scald agent for the removal of hair, and as a cooling and retort water agent for the prevention of staining of the outside surfaces of canned goods.

Handling: Keep container dry. Do not breathe dust. Never add water to this product. In case of insufficient ventilation, wear suitable respiratory equipment. If you feel unwell, seek medical attention and show the label when possible. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Keep away from incompatibles such as metals, acids.
Storage: Keep container tightly closed. Keep container in a cool, well-ventilated area.Keep containers closed. Store in clean, tightly closed steel, fiber, or plastic containers. Separate from acids, reactive metals, and ammonium salts. Do not store in aluminum, fiberglass, copper, brass, zinc or galvanized containers. This product can absorb water from the air. In case of high humidity or storage for extended periods of time, use plastic bags to enclose product containers to avoid caking. Packaged inventory should be used on a first in, first out (FIFO) basis.

Engineering Controls: Use process enclosures, local exhaust ventilation, or other engineering controls to keep airborne levels below recommended exposure limits. If user operations generate dust, fume or mist, use ventilation to keep exposure to airborne contaminants below the exposure limit.

Personal Protection: Splash goggles. Synthetic apron. Vapor and dust respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Gloves.

Personal Protection in Case of a Large Spill: Splash goggles. Full suit. Vapor and dust respirator. Boots. Gloves. A self contained breathing apparatus should be used to avoid inhalation of the product. Suggested protective clothing might not be sufficient; consult a specialist BEFORE handling this product.
Exposure Limits: Not available.

Stability and Reactivity

Stability: The product is stable.
Instability Temperature: Not available.
Conditions of Instability: Incompatible materials
Incompatibility with various substances: Reactive with metals, acids.
Corrosivity: Not available.
Special Remarks on Reactivity: Solutions sodium metasilicate, when heated and acidified, are hydrolyzed to free sodium and silicic acfid.
Special Remarks on Corrosivity: Not available.
Polymerization: Will not occur.

Disposal Considerations

Waste Disposal:
Waste must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local environmental control regulations.

HDPE Bags inside liner of 20 Kgs, 25kgs, 40 Kgs & 50 Kgs. Capacity

MSDS Creation Date: 10/02/1997
Revision #4 Date: 25/04/2006

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