Specification

Carbon and Alloy Steels
Page 5 of 8 Revision Date: 12/21/2015
products to determine if it represents a fire or explosion hazard and to determine appropriate protection
methods. Avoid breathing dusts or fumes.
8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
Operations with potential for generating high concentrations of airborne particulates or fumes should be
evaluated and controlled as necessary.
Eye Protection - Use safety glasses. Dust resistant safety goggles are recommended under circumstances
where particles could cause mechanical injury such as grinding or cutting. Face shield should be used when
welding or cutting.
Skin - Appropriate protective gloves should be worn as necessary. Good personal hygiene practices should
be followed including cleansing exposed skin several times daily with soap and water, and laundering or dry
cleaning soiled work clothing.
Respiratory Protection - NIOSH/MSHA approved dust/fume/mist respirator should be used to avoid
excessive exposure. See Section 3 for component material information exposure limits. If such
concentrations are sufficiently high that this respirator is inadequate, or high enough to cause oxygen
deficiency, use a positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Follow all applicable
respirator use, fitting, and training standards and regulations.
Ventilation - Provide general and/or local exhaust ventilation to control airborne levels of dust or fumes below
exposure limits.
Exposure Guidelines - No permissible exposure limits (PEL) or threshold limit values (TLV) exist for steel. See
Section 3 for component materials. Various grades of steel will contain different combinations of these elements.
Trace elements may also be present in minute amounts
9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Appearance and Odor – Silver grey to grey black with metallic luster.
Boiling Point - Not applicable
Melting Point - Approximately 2800
o
F
pH - Not applicable
Specific Gravity (at 15.6
o
C) - Not applicable
Density (at 15.6
o
C) - Not applicable
Vapor Pressure - Not applicable
Vapor Density (air = 1) - Not applicable
% Volatile, by Volume - Not applicable
Solubility in Water - Insoluble.
Evaporation Rate (Butyl Acetate = 1) - Not applicable
Other Physical and Chemical Data - None
10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
Stability - Stable
Conditions to Avoid - Steel at temperatures above the melting point may liberate fumes containing oxides
of iron and alloying elements. Avoid generation of airborne fume.
Hazardous Polymerization - Will not occur.
Incompatibility (Materials to Avoid) - Reacts with strong acids to form hydrogen gas. Do not store near
strong oxidizers.
Hazardous Decomposition Products - Metallic fumes may be produced during welding, burning, grinding,
and possibly machining or any situation with the potential for thermal decomposition. Refer to ANSI Z49.1
11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The primary component of this product is iron. Long-term exposure to iron dusts or fumes can result in a
condition called siderosis which is considered to be a benign pneumoconiosis. Symptoms may include
chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and shortness of breath upon exertion. Penetration of iron particles in the
skin or eye may cause an exogenous or ocular siderosis which may be characterized by a red-brown