Product Name: Phosphonitrilic Chloride Trimer
Synonyms: Hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene, Trimeric phosphonitrilic chloride
CAS Number: 940-71-6
Manufacturer: Always check the container or supplier for the actual source, but common chemical suppliers include Sigma-Aldrich and Alfa Aesar
Uses: Intermediate for flame retardants, additives for resins and rubbers, precursor for various phosphazene polymers
Contact Information: Supplier or local distributor emergency contact or chemical response line posted on the label.
Classification: Classified under Acute Toxicity (Oral and Dermal), Skin Corrosiveness, Serious Eye Damage, and as an Environmental Hazard
Label Elements: Danger pictogram, corrosivity and environmental hazard icons
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation, toxic if swallowed or in contact with skin, harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects
Exposure Symptoms: Burning sensation, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, severe eye pain, blistering on exposed skin
Physical Hazards: Reacts violently with water generating hydrogen chloride gas, corrosive to most metals and tissues
Chemical Name: Hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene
Chemical Formula: (PNCl2)3
Concentration: Typically >98% purity
CAS Number: 940-71-6
Impurities: Low levels of higher oligomers or residual phosphorus compounds possible depending on source—always check supplier data
Mixtures: Pure substance, not a mixture
Inhalation: Take affected person outdoors, ensure access to fresh air, keep at rest and seek medical help if breathing difficulty occurs
Skin Contact: Rinse quickly and thoroughly with running water for at least fifteen minutes, remove and securely bag contaminated clothing, immediate medical attention required for burns or persistent irritation
Eye Contact: Rinse carefully and continuously with lukewarm water for at least twenty minutes, hold eyelids open for complete irrigation, get professional medical aid as soon as possible
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse mouth thoroughly with water, offer a small amount of water, seek immediate emergency medical assistance
Important Note: Direct medical assistance always requires clear disclosure of the substance so emergency responders can bring appropriate PPE and antidotes
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry sand, dry chemical powder, or special foam; do not use water or CO2 in large quantities
Specific Hazards: Decomposition creates toxic gases, especially hydrogen chloride, phosphorus oxides, and nitrogen oxides
Protective Equipment: Full self-contained breathing apparatus, complete chemical-resistant protective gear
Firefighting Advice: Approach from windward, contain run-off to avoid contamination, cool drums with fog but do not spray water directly on substance
Combustion Products: Dense white fumes of hydrochloric acid, irritating and corrosive gases
Personal Precautions: Wear proper respiratory protection (minimum P2 filter), goggles, chemical-resistant gloves, long sleeves
Environmental Precautions: Prevent discharge into soil, sewers, surface and groundwater; avoid release to air
Spill Cleanup: Ventilate closed spaces, use inert absorbent (vermiculite, dry sand), scoop residue into secure chemical waste containers, seal and label for disposal
Avoidance: Never pour down the drain, do not touch or step in spilled material
Decontamination: Neutralize residues with dilute sodium carbonate solution after collection, rinse the cleaned area with plenty of water under supervision of safety personnel
Handling: Always perform transfers and sample handling in a chemical fume hood, minimize inhalation and skin exposure by using adequate PPE, keep container tightly closed when not in use, avoid generation of dust or aerosols
Storage: Keep in tightly sealed containers made of compatible materials like glass or Teflon, store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location away from water, acids, bases, oxidizers, and any moisture source
Storage Temperature: Room temperature, avoid direct sunlight and excess heat
Specific Instructions: Proper labeling in accordance with chemical storage guidelines is critical to prevent mix-ups or misuse
Incompatibilities: Strongly reacts with water, alcohols, amines; will corrode many metals and metal alloys over time
Occupational Limits: No established ACGIH or OSHA threshold limits, but workplace concentrations should always be kept to a minimum
Engineering Controls: Laboratories should have local exhaust ventilation, fume hoods, eyewash stations and safety showers
Eye Protection: Tightly sealed chemical splash goggles, face shield for splash risk
Skin Protection: Chemically resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene), lab coat, chemical-resistant apron if large quantities handled
Respiratory Protection: Properly fitted NIOSH-approved respirator with acid gas and particulate filter for routine work, higher-grade protection in case of spills or clean-up
Hygiene: Do not eat, drink, or smoke during use, always wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling
Appearance: White to off-white crystalline powder or needles
Odor: Acrid, pungent, detectable at even low concentrations
Molecular Weight: 347.67 g/mol
Melting Point: 114–117°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes upon heating above 117°C, does not exhibit a true boiling point
Vapor Pressure: Very low at room temperature
Solubility: Decomposes in water with violent release of HCl; soluble in many organic solvents such as benzene, toluene, and chloroform
Density: Around 1.98 g/cm3
pH: Not applicable in solid state; hydrolyzes in water
Other Properties: Hygroscopic, releases corrosive and toxic gases on contact with water or moist air
Chemical Stability: Stable under dry, air-free, and cool conditions; decomposes in presence of moisture
Reactivity: Rapidly hydrolyzed by water or alcohols, reacts violently with amines or strong bases
Hazardous Decomposition: Hydrogen chloride, phosphoryl chloride, phosphoric acid, oxides of nitrogen formed on heating or in contact with strong acids
Polymerization Risks: Will not polymerize under normal storage or handling
Incompatible Materials: Water, strong oxidizers, strong bases, many metals, reducing agents
Exposure Routes: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact
Acute Toxicity: Toxic if swallowed, harmful via skin absorption, causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Symptoms of Exposure: Burning mouth and throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, severe blistering, redness and ulceration of tissues; nasal or pulmonary irritation on inhalation
Chronic Effects: No thorough studies on long-term health risk but burns and chronic respiratory symptoms reported in exposed workers
Sensitization: Not known to cause sensitization, but data limited
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, or OSHA as of latest reports
Ecotoxicity: Very toxic for aquatic organisms due to hydrolysis products (HCl and phosphorus compounds), even small runoff can harm fish and aquatic insects
Persistence: Quickly hydrolyzes in presence of moisture, but some hydrolysis products are persistent and bioaccumulative
Mobility: Low volatility but high risk of spreading if released to watercourses
Degradation: Decomposes under environmental conditions forming corrosive, persistent byproducts
Recommendations: Never introduce into waterways, soil, or the sewage system; always collect and dispose of according to hazardous materials protocols
Waste Treatment: Hazardous waste rules apply, contact local waste disposal authority for collection
Disposal Method: Do not attempt neutralization or dilution without training; only in approved chemical incinerators or under professional hazardous waste handlers
Container Disposal: Triple rinse emptied containers, puncture, and deliver to hazardous waste processor
Precaution: Labels and warnings remain visible on any waste containers, never dispose of in regular trash or down the drain
UN Number: UN 3264
Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive liquid, acidic, inorganic, n.o.s. (contains Phosphonitrilic Chloride Trimer)
Transport Hazard Class: Class 8: Corrosive substances
Packing Group: II
Special Precautions: Keep upright, properly sealed, visible hazard labels throughout shipment, transport crews trained for hazardous material handling
Marine Pollutant: Yes, avoid any risk of leakage into aquatic systems
US TSCA: Listed, subject to TSCA regulatory restrictions
EU REACH: Generally not registered on the European Chemicals Agency database, consult supplier for compliance
OSHA: Covered under Hazard Communications Standard as a hazardous chemical
Other Regulations: Included on various local or regional hazardous substances inventories
Labeling: Always follow GHS (Globally Harmonized System) for hazard pictograms and warning language
Restriction Notes: Not intended for consumer use, professional training and documentation required
