ELECTRONIC SPACE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL
1050 Benson Way, Ashland, OR 97520
Toll Free (800) 638-2581 * Fax (541) 488-8313
E-Mail: sales@espimetals.com
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
I PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
Beryllium Metallic Element
Trade Name: Ch em ical Fam ily:
Be 7440-4 1-7
Form ula: CAS #:
II HAZAR DOUS INGRED IENTS
Haz ardous C omp onents % OSHA/PEL ACGIH/TLV
.002 mg /m 3 .002 mg /m 3
Beryllium 0-100
Toxic Substances Control Act: Beryllium (CAS # 7440-41-7) is listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory of Existing
Chemical Substances.
DS1750000
NIOSH R TECS#:
III PHYSICAL DATA
2970 oC Melting Po int (oC): 1289
Boiling Point:
1.85 N/A
Density (g/cc): Vapor Pressure:
9.01 N/A
Atomic Weight: Evap oration R ate:
None None
% V olatiles: Solubility in H 2O:
Grey metallic, odo rless
Appearance and Odor:
IV FIRE AND EXPLOSION H AZARDS DATA
Flash Point (Method used): Non-combustible as a solid. Ignition occurred as a powder layer consisting of 1.0 to 5.0 micron
particles between 540 oC and 700 oC. Coarser beryllium powder able to pass through a 74 micron sieve did not ignite under like
testing.
Explosive limits: Not applicable to solids. As a cloud of 1.0 micron diameter powder ignition occurred at 910 oC. Beryllium powd er
greater than or equal to 2 microns in diameter did not ignite under like conditions. Regardless of powder size tested beryllium did not
ignite as a cloud in a spark apparatus.
Extingu ishing Media: As a so lid, use extinguish ing m edia appropriate to the surroun ding fire. Do no t use w ater or carb on d ioxid e to
extinguish bery llium pow der fires. As a powd er, extingu ish by smothering using a Class D fire extinguish er, dry sand , grap hite
powder, or sodium chloride.
Special Fire Fighting Procedures: If this material becomes airborne as a respirable particulate during a fire situation, pressure-
dem and self-co ntained breathing apparatus m ust be w orn by firefighters or any o ther perso ns poten tially exposed to the m etal fum es.
Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazard: Do not use water to extinguish fires around operations involving molten metal due to the
potential for steam explosions. In addition, water may disassociate when in contact with burning beryllium powder or chips releasing
flamm able hydrogen gas which could burn and result in an explosion. Ventilation duct work which has accumulated a fine coating of
beryllium dust on its internal surface poses a potentially serious fire hazard. Extinguishing using Class D fire extinguisher media and
shut down or isolate the affected portion of the ventilation system. Because of this potential risk, sources of ignition such as flame,
spark , etc. m ust no t be allowed to enter the ven tilation d uct w ork. Also, duct work m ust be ma de of non-co mb ustible ma terial.
V HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
Primary Ro utes of Exposure: Inhalation: An exposure to airborne beryllium in excess of the occupational standard can occur
during routine handling, material transfer, chemical processing or further processing of powdered material and when machining,
melting, casting, dross handling, picking, welding, grinding, sanding, polishing, milling, crushing, or otherwise abrading the surface
of solid beryllium in a m ann er which generates finely divid ed particles. M achining operation s con duc ted unde r a floo d of liquid
coolant usually require local exhaust ventilation. The cycling through a machine of liquid lubricant/coolant containing finely divided
bery llium in susp ensio n can result in the co ncentration bu ilding to a po int where the particulate m ay become airbo rne d uring use . A
filter, centrifuge, or settling chamber can be installed in-line if necessary. The potential for exposures also may occur during repair or
ma intenance activities on contam inated equipm ent such as: furnace re build ing, m ainten ance or repair o f air cleaning equipm ent,
structural renovation, welding, etc.
Acute E ffects:
Inhalation: This prod uct is insoluble and does no t cause acu te health effects.
Ingestion: This prod uct is insoluble and does no t cause acu te health effects.
Skin : Skin abrasion may cause irritation.
Eye: Injury to the eyes can result from particulate irritation or mechanical injury to the cornea or conjunctiva by dust or particulate.
Chro nic Effects:
Inhalation: Overexposure to airborne beryllium particulate may cause a serious lung disease, in certain sensitive individuals, called
chronic beryllium disease (chronic berylliosis). Chronic beryllium disease is a condition in which the tissues of the lungs become
inflamed, restricting the exchange of oxygen between the lungs and the bloodstream. Symptoms may include cough, chest pain,
shortness of breath, weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. Long term effects may include loss of lung function, fibrosis, or subsequent
seconda ry effects on the heart w ith eventual perma nen t imp airm ent.
Ingestion: There are no known cases of illness resulting from ingestion of beryllium.
Skin : Skin abrasion may cause irritation.
Eye: Injury to the eyes can result from particulate irritation or mechanical injury to the cornea or conjunctiva by dust or particulate.
Carcinogenic references: Hazard commun ication regulations of the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration require that
caution labels for materials listed as potential carcinogens in either the International Agency for Cancer Research Monog raph Series
or the National Toxicology Program Annual Report on carcinogens must contain a cancer warning. Beryllium has also been so listed
based principally on animal tests and therefore this material bears a label identifying it as a potential cancer hazard.
Medical Conditions Aggravated by Exposure: Persons with impaired pulmonary function, airway diseases, or conditions such as
asthma, em physem a, chronic bronchitis, etc. may incu r further impairment if excessive concentrations of dust or fum e are inhaled. If
prior damage or disease to the neurologic (nervous), circulatory, hematologic (blood), or urinary (kidney) system has occurred, proper
screening or exam ination s should b e con duc ted on ind ividu als who m ay be exp osed to further risk wh ere hand ling and u se of th is
material may cause excessive exposure.
EMERG ENCY AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES:
INHALATION: Rem ove to fresh air. Alth oug h no cases in wh ich a p erson stopp ed breathing as a resu lt of exposure are kn ow n, if
breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration and obtain medical help.
INGESTION: Swallowing metal powder or dust can be treated by having the affected person drink large quantities of water and
attempting to induce vomiting if conscious. Obtain medical help.
SK IN: Remove contaminated clothing, brush material off skin, wash affected area with soap and water. If irritation persists, seek
medical attention.
EYE: Flush eyes with copious am ounts of clean water. If irritation persists obtain medical help. Contact lenses should not be w orn
wh en w orking w ith m etal du sts and pow ders b ecau se the c ontact lens m ust be rem ove d to p rovide ad equ ate treatment.
-Beryllium 2-
VI REACTIVITY DATA
Stability: Stable
Co nditio ns to Av oid: Oxidation will form on so lid shapes w hen mo ist.
Incompatibility (Material to Avoid): Avoid contac t with m ineral acids an d oxidizing ag ents wh ich m ay gen erate hyd rogen gas.
Hydrogen gas can be an explosion hazard.
Haz ardous D ecomposition Produc ts: Melting a nd dross han dling or p owdering operations can emit airbo rne du sts or fum es.
Hazardous Polymerization: Will not Occur
VII SPILL AND LEAK PRO CEDURES
Steps to Be Taken in Case Material Is Released or Spilled: In solid form this material poses no health or environmen tal risk. If
this material is in powder or dust form, establish a restricted entry zone based on the severity of the spill. Persons entering the
restricted zone must wear adequate respiratory protection and protective clothing appropriate for the severity of the spill. Cleanup
should be conducted with a vacuum system utilizing a high efficiency particulate air filtration system followed by wet cleaning
me thod s. Special care m ust be taken wh en ch ang ing filters on H EPA v acuum cleaners w hen used to clean up potentially to xic
ma terials. Ca ution shou ld be taken to m inim ize airb orne gen eration of pow der o r dust and avoid contam ination of air and w ater.
Depending upon the quantity of material released, fine powder or dust spills to the environment may require reporting the National
Response Center at (800) 424-8802 as well as the State Emergency Response Comm ission and Local Emergency Planning
Comm ittee.
Waste Disposal Method: Dispose o f in accord ance w ith State, Federal and L ocal regu lations.
VIII SPECIAL PROTECTION INFORMATION
Respiratory Protection: When p otential exposures are above the occup ational limits, approved respirators must be used. Ex posure
to un kno wn concentrations of fume s or dusts req uires th e wearing of a pressure-dem and self-co ntained breathing appa ratus.
Pressure-dem and airline re spirato rs are re com me nde d for jobs with high potential ex posures su ch as chan ging bags in a bagh ouse air
cleaning device.
Ventilation: Whenever possible the use of local exhaust ventilation or other engineering controls is the preferred method of
controlling exposure to airborne dust and fume to meet established occupational exposure limits. Powders should be stored and
transported in tightly sealed containe rs and m ust only b e hand led und er controlled ven tilated conditions.
Protective Gloves: Wear gloves to prevent metal cuts and skin abrasions particularly during handling.
Eye Protection: We ar safety glasses, go ggles, face sh ield, or welders helmet.
Other Protective Equipment: No protective equipment or clothing is required when handling solid forms. Protective overgarment
or w ork clothing sh ould be w orn by p erson s wh o m ay become contaminated with dusts, fu me s, or po wd ers.
Wo rk Practices: Vacuum or wet cleaning methods are recommended for dust removal. Be certain to de-energize electrical systems
as necessary before beginning wet cleaning. Vacuum cleaners with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are the
recomm ended type. Th e use of com pressed air to remove du sts should be avoided as such an activity can result in unnecessary
short-term elevated ex posures to dusts. C ontamin ated w ork clothing and o verg arm ent should be m anaged in such a m ann er so as to
prevent secon dary expo sure to persons such as laundry operators an d to prev ent con tamina tion to perso nal clothing . Never use
compressed air to clean work clothing.
IX SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
Packa ging and L abeling Req uirements: The following requirements of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation apply only to beryllium
metal pow der or d ust, not to solid sha pes:
RQ F lamm able Solid, Poisonous, N.O.S. (Beryllium M etal Powder).
Shipping Name:
NOTE: Must be marked on shipping papers and on the outside of the shipping container.
-Beryllium 3-
Beryllium metal powder and dust are classified as Flammable Solid and Class B Poison.
Ha zard Class:
NOTE: Ha zard class mu st be included on shipping pape rs.
UN2926
Identification Num ber:
NOTE: Must be marked on shipping papers and on the outside of the shipping container.
Flamm able Solid and Poison (Fo r Beryllium M etal Powder or D ust Only).
Label(s) Required:
NOTE: Place on the outside of the shipping container.
10 lbs. (4.54).
Repo rtable Qua ntity:
NOTE: The R Q is limited to par ticles having a diam eter less than 100 micro meters.
Suitable for Flamm able Solids. Recomm ended do uble overpack when shipping pow der.
DO T Specification Container:
Emergency response information is provided within this MSDS.
Other:
NOTE: This infor ma tion m ust be included, in som e form , with the sh ipping p apers.
SAR A T itle III: Beryllium is reportable under Section 313
Issued by: S. Dierks
Date: November 1992
-Beryllium 4-
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