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Tungsten Carbide

Grade Charts

Tungsten Carbide Material Safety Data Sheet

1: Identification of the substance/mixture and of the company / undertaking
1.1: Product identifier
Substance Name	Tungsten Carbide
Chemical Name and Formula	Cemented Tungsten Carbide (CW) with Cobalt/Nickel Binder
CAS No.	12070-12-1
EINECS No.	235-123-0
Molecular weight	195.851
Trade Name/Synonyms	All Federal Carbide Cemented Tungsten Carbide Grades

1.2: Relevant identified uses of the substance or mixture and uses advised against
Identified Uses	Production of hardmetal powder Production of sintered hardmetal articles Production of WC-containing diamond tools Powder metallurgical production of WC-containing articles Application of WC-containing coatings via thermal spraying Use of WC-containing articles Recycling of WC-containing scrap materials
Uses advised against	Not applicable

1.3: Details of the supplier of the safety data sheet
Name	Federal Carbide Company
Address	One Eagle Ridge Road, Tyrone, PA 16686 USA
Phone	(814) 684-7600
Fax	(814) 684-9400
Email	Inquiry@federalcarbide.com

1.4 : Emergency telephone number

National centre for Prevention and Treatment of Intoxications No.	1-800-222-1222
Emergency telephone at the company Available outside office hours	(814) 684-7600
	Yes	X No8:30am – 5pm EST

2: Hazards Identification
2.1: Classification of the substance or mixture
Classification according to EC 1272/2008:	Not Classified
Classification according to 67/548/EEC:	Not Classified

2.2: Label elements (according to EC 1272/2008 )
Hazard pictogram(s):	No pictogram
Signal word:	No signal word
Hazard Statement(s):	None
Precautionary statement(s):	None

2.3: Other Hazards
PBT or vPvB	Tungsten carbide is an inorganic substance and therefore, the PBT and vPvB assessment is not required.

3: Composition / information on ingredients
3.1: Substances
Material	CAS#	% by Weight*	OSHA TWA (mg/m3)	ACGIH TWA (mg/m3)	OSHA STEL (mg/m3)
Tungsten Carbide (limits for tungsten dusts)	12070-12-1	40 – 97	5	5	10
Cobalt	7440-48-4	0 – 30	0.1	0.02	-
Nickel	7440-02-0	0 – 30	1	1	-
Tantalum Carbide (limits for tantalum dusts)	12070-06-3	0 – 50	5	5	-
Chromium Carbide (limits for trivalent chromium dusts)	7440-47-3	0 - 5	1.0	0.5	-

*Total impurities less than 2% and no single impurity greater than 0.1% is considered relevant for the classification and labelling.

* Depends on grade specification.

TWA – Time Weighted Average (an employee’s average airborne exposure in any 8 hour shift of a 40 hour work week).

STEL – Short Term Exposure level (an employee’s 15 minute time weighted average exposure at any time during a work day).

This product contains substances that are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 313 of the Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Realization Act of 1986 and 40 CFR Part 372.

4: First aid measures
4.1: Description of first aid measures
Eyes	Rinse opened eye for several minutes under running water. Consult a doctor if required.
Inhalation	Remove to fresh air. Seek medical attention if required.
Ingestion	Rinse mouth with water and drink plenty of water afterwards. Seek medical advice if required.
Skin	Immediately wash with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. Seek medical attention if required.
General advise	After first aid, get appropriate medical attention.

4.2: Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
In general, metal powders or dust may cause mechanical eye and skin irritation. Inhalation of powder or dust may cause mild respiratory tract irritation.

4.3: Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed
None known

5: Firefighting measures
5.1: Extinguishing media
Substance is non-flammable. Extinguishing methods depend upon hazards in vicinity. Use water or dry extinguishing powders, sand, CO2 or other inert material as extinguishing media. Do not use water if any water-reactive metal powders are nearby.

5.2: Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
No hazardous decomposition products are known.

5.3: Advice for firefighters
Use a self-contained breathing apparatus and a protective suit.

6: Accidental release measures

6.1: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures

Avoid contact with skin and eyes, and formation and accumulation of dust. Use personal protective equipment (ie gloves, safety goggles, dust respirator) as specified in Section 8 of this SDS. Ventilate area of spill.

6.2: Environmental precautions

Avoid release into the environment.

6.3: Methods and material for containment and cleaning up

Use clean-up methods which avoid dust generation, such as vacuuming (with filter that prevents re-suspension of dust) or wet clean-up, and fill into appropriate sealable containers. Clean remaining spills with water. Dispose of wastes according to regulations.

6.4: Reference to other sections

See sections 8 and 13 for exposure controls and disposal considerations.

7: Handling and storage

7.1: Precautions for safe handling

Ensure adequate ventilation and, if necessary, exhaust ventilation when handling or transferring this material. Use good housekeeping procedures to prevent accumulation of dust and ensure that accepted limit values are complied with. Wear personal protective equipment when handling.

7.2: Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities

Store in tightly closed containers in a well ventilated area. Store under dry and cool conditions, and away from incompatible materials (oxidizing agents) and direct sunlight.

7.3: Specific end use(s)

Production of hardmetal powder
Production of sintered hardmetal articles
Production of WC-containing diamond tools
Powder metallurgical production of WC-containing articles
Application of WC-containing coatings via thermal spraying
Use of WC-containing articles
Recycling of WC-containing scrap materials

8: Exposure controls / personal protection

8.1 : Control parameters

Country	For tungsten and insoluble compounds, as tungsten
Country	8-h Limit Value (mg/m3)	Short-term Limit Value (mg/m3)
Austria http://www.dguv.de/ifa/en/gestis/limit_values/pdf/au.pdf	5*	10*
Belgium	5	10
Canada (Québec)	5	10
Denmark	5	10
Poland	5	–
Spain	5	10
Sweden	5	–
Switzerland	5*	–
USA - NIOSH	5	10†
United Kingdom http://www.dguv.de/ifa/en/gestis/limit_values/pdf/uk.pdf	5	10

* Inhalable aerosol; †15-minutes

DNELs and PNECs

Exposure pattern

Route

DNEL

Long-term - systemic effects

Dermal

Workers: 1.8 mg/kg bw/day (1.7 mg W/kg/day)

General Population: 0.51 mg/kg bw/day (0.48 mg W/kg/day)

Long-term - systemic effects

Inhalation

Workers: 6.2 mg/m³ (5.8 mg W/m3)

General Population: 1.8 mg/m³ (1.7 mg W/m3)

Long-term - systemic effects

Oral

Workers: Not applicable

General Population: 0.51 mg/kg bw/day (0.48 mg W/kg/day)

The most relevant routes of potential exposure to workers would be the dermal and inhalation routes and the relevant routes of exposure for the general population are the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. Based on the available acute toxicity data (oral, dermal, inhalation), tungsten carbide is not an acute toxicant and therefore, derivation of DNEL long-term will be sufficient to control potential risks associated with short-term exposures. In addition, tungsten carbide was not irritating to either the eyes or skin and was not sensitizing to the skin in standard tests. Therefore, tungsten carbide does not appear to elicit local toxicity effects and deriving a DNEL for local effects is not necessary.

PNEC

Value

PNEC aqua – freshwater

0.338 mg dissolved tungsten/L

PNEC aqua - marine water

0.0338 mg dissolved tungsten/L

PNEC aqua – intermittent releases

0.310 mg dissolved tungsten/L

PNEC sediment freshwater

960 mg tungsten/kg

PNEC sediment marine

96 mg tungsten/kg

PNEC soil

2.17 mg tungsten/kg dry soil

PNEC sewage treatment plant

9.39 mg tungsten/L

PNEC oral

11 mg tungsten/kg food

8.2: Exposure controls

Appropriate engineering controls:

Engineering controls may include local ventilation systems with dust filters depending on degree of process automation and containment (e.g. closed vs. open processes).

Individual protection measures:

Eye/face protection

Use of safety glasses as appropriate and reasonably necessary, depending on degree of process automation and containment (e.g. closed vs. open processes).

Skin protection

Use of work gloves and work clothes as appropriate and reasonably necessary, depending on degree of process automation and containment (e.g. closed vs. open processes).

Respiratory protection

Use of respiratory protection as appropriate and reasonably necessary, depending on degree of process automation and containment (e.g. closed vs. open processes).

Environmental exposure controls

FACILITY LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL EMISSIONS/MITIGATION1

Air Emission Controls

RMMs for air (present in >90% of the sites2):

• Fabric or bag filters (reported most common)

• Wet scrubbers (reported second most common)

• Ceramic filters

• Dry or semi-dry scrubbers

• Electrostatic precipitation (not common)

Water Emission Controls

The 50th percentile or reported site-specific removal efficiency for nine sites. RMMs for water (present in >90% of the sites for metal compound production2):

• Chemical precipitation

• Sedimentation

• Filtration

• Electrolysis (not common)

1 Typical RMMs are provided for illustrative purposes and should be applied as appropriate and reasonably necessary to prevent adverse effects, indicated by a risk characterisation ratio (RCR) of less than one, on human health and the environment.

2 Based on input parameters derived from the Specific Emission Release Categories (spERCs) for metals (ARCHE, 2010), spERC for Manufacture and Recycling of Massive Metal and Metal Powder v.1.2.

9: Physical and chemical properties
9.1: Information on basic physical and chemical properties
Appearance		Black or grey powder
Odor		Odorless
Odor threshold		Not applicable as the substance is odorless
pH		Not relevant due to physical form (powder)
Melting point/freezing point		2785-2920°C
Initial boiling point/boiling range		6000°C
Flash point		Not relevant as the substance is inorganic
Evaporation rate		Not relevant due to physical form (powder)
Flammability		Non-Flammable
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits		Not relevant as the substance is not flammable
Vapor pressure		Not relevant due to physical form
Vapor density		Not relevant due to physical form
Relative density		15.63 - 15.7 g/cm3
Solubility in water		Insoluble
Partition coefficient (n-octanol/water)		Not relevant as the substance is inorganic
Auto-ignition temperature		Tungsten carbide is not a self-heating substance down to a particle FSSS size of 0.53 µm
Decomposition temperature		Greater than 2920°C (melting point)
Viscosity		Not relevant due to physical form (powder)
Explosive properties		Not explosive
Oxidising properties		Not oxidising

9.2: Other information
Granulometry	Varies with grade composition

10: Stability and reactivity

10.1: Reactivity

No hazardous reactions known.

10.2: Chemical stability

Stable under normal ambient and anticipated storage and handling conditions of temperature and pressure.

10.3: Possibility of hazardous reactions

None known

10.4: Conditions to avoid

Avoid formation and accumulation of dust.

10.5: Incompatible materials

None known

10.6: Hazardous decomposition products

None known

11: Toxicological information
Toxicological information is available for tungsten carbide. However, for some of the endpoints in this section read across to tungsten blue oxide or sodium tungstate needed to be conducted due to the lack of relevant tungsten carbide data.
11.1: Information on toxicological effects
Acute oral	Rat (male/female) LD50 reported to be >2000 mg/kg bw (OECD 401).
Acute inhalation	Rat (male/female) LC50 (4h) reported to be >5.3 mg/L (OECD 403).
Acute dermal	Rat (male/female) LD50 reported to be >2000 mg/kg bw (OECD 402).
Skin corrosion/irritation	In a skin irritation study conducted on rabbits (male), tungsten carbide elicited no dermal irritation (OECD 404).
Eye damage/irritation	In an eye irritation study conducted on rabbits, tungsten carbide elicited no eye irritation (OECD 405).
Respiratory/skin sensitisation	In a Guinea pig maximization test (OECD 406), tungsten carbide did not produce evidence of skin sensitisation (delayed contact hypersensitivity) in any of the test animals. No respiratory sensitization study is available for tungsten carbide.
Germ cell mutagenicity	Tungsten carbide was negative for mutagenicity in an in vitro bacterial gene mutation assay (OECD 471), and an in vitro micronucleus assay (OECD 487). No in vitro L5178Y TK +/- mouse lymphoma forward mutation assay (OECD 476) data of sufficient quality is available for WC. However, in vitro L5178Y TK +/- mouse lymphoma forward mutation assay is available for tungsten metal and results were negative. Based on the lack of mutagenicity reported in in vitro assays, tungsten carbide is not considered a mutagen.
Carcinogenicity	No carcinogenicity data available.
Reproductive toxicity	No reproductive/developmental studies are available for tungsten carbide. However, data are available on sodium tungstate and tungsten blue oxide, which are used for read across. Tungsten carbide is not considered a reproductive toxicant based on a one-generation reproductive study (EPA OPPTS 870.3800/870.3650) on sodium tungstate that resulted in no significant effects on reproductive/developmental parameters, as well as a lack of reproductive organ effects in male and female rats following a 28 -days inhalation exposure (OECD 412) to tungsten blue oxide.
STOT single exposure	No significant systemic effects were observed.
STOT repeated exposure	Exposure to tungsten carbide to a concentration of 15 mg/m3 for 90-days (OECD 413) resulted in a female rat NOAEL of ≥15 mg/m3 and a male rat LOAEL of 15 mg/m3 (based on mild histopathological alterations in the lungs). In addition, a rat 28-day inhalation toxicity study on tungsten blue oxide (OECD 412), which is used for read across resulted in a NOAEL of 0.65 mg/L (maximum dose tested) as no significant adverse effects were observed at any of the doses tested.
Aspiration hazard	Tungsten carbide is not an expected aspiration hazard due to physical form.

Information on likely routes of exposure
The relevant routes of exposure for the general population are the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. The most relevant routes of potential exposure to workers would be the dermal and inhalation routes.
Symptoms related to the physical, chemical and toxicological characteristics
In general, metal powders or dust may cause mechanical eye and skin irritation. Inhalation of powder or dust may cause mild respiratory tract irritation.

Delayed and immediate effects as well as chronic effects from short and long-term exposure
None known

Interactive effects
None known

12: Ecological information
Limited ecological information is available for tungsten carbide. Therefore, read across to sodium tungstate was conducted for some of the endpoints in this section.
12.1: Toxicity
Toxicity to fish	Zebrafish 96-h LC50 >1000 mg tungsten carbide/L (OECD 203). Zebrafish 38-day flow-through early-life stage/reproduction/ (sub)lethal effects NOEC ≥9.8 mg sodium tungstate/L (approximately 5.74 mg tungsten/L) (OECD 210).
Toxicity to invertebrates	Daphnia magna 48-h EC50 >1000 mg tungsten carbide/L (OECD 202). Daphnia magna 21-day NOEC based on immobilisation ≥85.1 mg sodium tungstate/L (approximately 50 mg tungsten/L) (OECD 211). Daphnia magna 21-day NOEC based on reproduction and growth 44.2 mg sodium tungstate/L (approximately 26 mg tungsten/L) (OECD 211).
Toxicity to algae and plants	Desmodesmus subspicatus (algae) 72-h EC50 based on growth rate >1 mg tungsten carbide/L (OECD 201). Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (algae) 72-h EC50 based on growth rate >17.7 mg sodium tungstate/L (approximately 10.4 mg tungsten/L) (OECD 201). Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (algae) 72-h NOEC based on growth rate 0.81 mg sodium tungstate/L (approximately 0.476 mg tungsten/L) (OECD 201).
12.2: Persistence and degradability
Although no data were available for tungsten carbide, degradation is not a relevant pathway for this substance as an inorganic metal compound. Persistence is not applicable for this substance as an inorganic substance.

12.3: Bioaccumulative potential
Bioaccumulation/bioconcentration of tungsten carbide is not expected to occur in aquatic or sediment species, as the bioavailability of tungstate (the most common bioavailable form) from tungsten compounds is expected to be at low concentrations in the water column due to stream and river sediment adsorption and low potential for leaching from soils. Furthermore, any uptake mediated by transport proteins would be expected to be internally regulated. The absence of methylated tungsten species also supports the claim that bioaccumulation is not expected to be of concern for tungsten carbide as an inorganic metal compound. Based on BCFs calculated from paired concentrations of tungsten in soil and worm, or soil and plant tissue, tungsten carbide exposures are not expected to result in the bioaccumulation of tungsten in terrestrial organisms.

12.4: Mobility in soil
No data on the behavior of tungsten carbide in the environment are available. However, data for sodium tungstate and tungsten metal are expected to adequately capture the range of mobility of tungsten carbide in the environment. The adsorption/desorption is highly dependent on the characteristics of the soil system in question. For example, soil sorption coefficients of tungsten metal and sodium tungstate are found to increase with decreasing pH. Additionally, soil-tungsten systems may take up to approximately 3-4 months to reach equilibrium. Soil sorption coefficients measured for sodium tungstate ranged from 16.6 to 863 L/kg.

12.5: Results of PBT and vPvB assessment
Tungsten carbide is an inorganic substance, and therefore the PBT and vPvB assessment is not required.

12.6: Other adverse effects
None known

13: Disposal considerations

13.1: Waste treatment methods

FACILITY LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL EMISSIONS/MITIGATION1

Waste Management Controls

Dispose in accordance with local/regional/national/international regulations. Two options are recommended:

1. Re-use

2. Recycling or other recovery

Wastewater should be processed through a sewage treatment plant (STP) either on-site or off-site.

14: Transport information
14.1: UN-No.:	Not applicable
14.2: UN proper shipping name:	Not applicable
14.3: Transport hazard class(es):	Non-hazardous
14.4: Packing group:	Not applicable
14.5: Environmental hazard(s):	Non-hazardous
14.6: Special precaution(s) for user:	Non-hazardous
14.7: Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and the IBC Code:	Not applicable

15: Regulatory information

15.1: Safety, health and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture

EU Regulations: REACH

National Regulations: None known

15.2: Chemical safety assessment

A chemical safety report has been carried out on tungsten carbide. No exposure scenarios are attached to this SDS following the European Chemicals Agency Guidance on the Compilation of Safety Data Sheets (October 2010) requirements. An exposure scenario is only required for those substances fulfilling the criteria for any of the listed hazard classes in Article 14(4) of Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) as amended by Article 58 of Classification, Labeling and Packaging (CLP).

16: Other information

Directive 67/548/EEC:

Not classified

Revision(s):

SDS prepared on 3 September 2014. Prepared in accordance with Annex II of the REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) 453/2010.

Abbreviations:

BCF	Bioconcentration Factor
bw	Body weight
°C	Degrees Celsius
ca.	Approximately
CAS	Chemical Abstracts Service
cm	Centimetre(s)
DNEL	Derived No Effect Level
EC	European Commission
EC50	Effect Concentration 50%
EEC	European Economic Community
EINECS	European Inventory of Existing Commercial chemical Substances
EU	European Union
FSSS	Automated Fisher Number Particle-Sizing System
g	Gram(s)
h	Hour(s)
kg	Kilogram(s)
L	Litre(s)
LC50	Lethal Concentration 50%
LD50	Lethal Dose 50%
LOAEL	Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level
m	Meter(s)
MARPOL	International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships
mg	Milligram(s)
NIOSH	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NOAEL	No Observed Adverse Effect Level
NOEC	No Observed Effect Concentration
No.	Number
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
PBT	Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic
PNEC	Predicted No Effect Concentration
RCR	Risk Characterization Ratio
REACH	Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances
RMM	Risk Management Measure
SDS	Safety Data Sheet
spERC	Specific Emission Release Categories
µm	Micrometer(s)
vPvB	very Persistent, very Bioaccumulative
W	Tungsten
WC	Tungsten carbide
w/w	Weight to weight

End of Safety Data Sheet

Federal Carbide Company • One Eagle Ridge Road • Tyrone, Pennsylvania 16686 USA
814-684-7600 / 800-631-3640 Fax: 814-684-9400 • inquiry@federalcarbide.com • www.federalcarbide.com

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Tungsten Carbide

Grade Charts

Tungsten Carbide Material Safety Data Sheet

Hazard pictogram(s):