Material Safety Data Sheet for Tungsten Tubing

Identification

Product Name: Tungsten Tubing
Chemical Family: Transition Metal
Chemical Formula: W
Synonyms: Wolfram Tubing
Manufacturer: Tungsten manufacturing facilities are mainly located in China, the U.S., and Germany, handling high-purity milling and tubing fabrication.
Recommended Use: Industrial applications including aerospace, medical devices, high-temperature furnaces, electronics, and specialties like X-ray shielding.
Contact Number (Emergency): National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222); call local fire or emergency medical services for local response.
Section Reference: Refer to plant’s own process flow for special handling details.

Hazard Identification

GHS Classification: Not classified as dangerous for supply/use under GHS; mechanical risk present if machined
Physical Hazards: Very dense, brittle at room temperature, difficult to ignite, fine particulate from cutting or machining can become airborne
Health Hazards: Dust or filings can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory system; chronic inhalation may lead to hard-metal lung disease
Environmental Hazards: Not soluble or mobile in usual workplace circumstances, but fine particulate should be managed to avoid environmental contamination
Pictograms: None required for solid tubing; exclamation mark if significant dust or fume generation

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Chemical Name: Tungsten
Common Name: Tungsten
CAS Number: 7440-33-7
EC Number: 231-143-9
Purity: Typically above 99.95% for industrial tubing; trace impurities (iron, nickel, molybdenum, rare earths) under 0.1% combined
Alloying Elements: Sometimes includes rhenium, but most tubing is high-purity elemental tungsten

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Move person to fresh air, supply oxygen if shortness of breath, get medical attention if symptoms such as coughing or wheezing persist
Eye Contact: Rinse thoroughly with water for 15 minutes holding eyelids apart; remove contact lenses if present, seek medical help if irritation continues
Skin Contact: Brush off dust, wash affected area with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing and seek medical attention for persistent irritation
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water, do not induce vomiting, consult medical professionals; accidental ingestion of large pieces unlikely due to physical form
Note to Physician: Treat symptomatically; no known acute systemic hazard from tungsten metal

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, sand, or graphite; avoid water on powdered tungsten, which reacts at high temperature
Special Hazards: Bulk tungsten does not burn, but fine dust can ignite, forming tungsten oxide fumes
Protective Equipment: Full protective gear, self-contained breathing apparatus; avoid inhaling any fumes produced
Combustion Products: Tungsten trioxide (WO₃) if dust burns
Firefighting Instructions: Isolate hazard, keep unnecessary personnel away, control runoff from fire-fighting to avoid environmental discharge

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Evacuate area if airborne dust present; ventilate and control dust at source
Protective Equipment: Use gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask or respirator if cutting or machining
Cleanup Methods: Use vacuum equipment with HEPA filter, sweep up without generating dust; avoid dry sweeping or compressed air
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into groundwater, drains, or sewers; collect spilled particulate for recovery or safe disposal

Handling and Storage

Handling: Avoid generating dust or chips, handle with care during loading/unloading to prevent personal injury due to density
Precautions: Wear cut-resistant gloves to avoid lacerations, use face protection in work zones where tubing may fracture
Storage: Store in dry, well-ventilated area away from acids, oxidizers, and corrosive materials; keep tubing on racks to prevent rolling or falling
Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizing agents, halogens, and mineral acids can attack tungsten at high temperature

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL 5 mg/m³ (as tungsten metal dust), ACGIH TLV 5 mg/m³ (inhalable; 3 mg/m³ respirable)
Engineering Controls: Use LEV (local exhaust ventilation) during cutting, grinding, or machining
Personal Protective Equipment: Safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves, lab coat or coveralls; dust respirator if visible airborne particulate present
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands before breaks and after handling; no eating, drinking, or smoking in areas where material is processed
Environmental Protection: Capture and dispose of tungsten dust, chips in sealed containers

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Grey to silver, metallic, solid tube
Odor: Odorless
Melting Point: 3,422°C (6,192°F)
Boiling Point: 5,555°C (10,031°F)
Density: 19.3 g/cm³
Solubility: Insoluble in water, mineral acids attack slowly with oxidation
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at ambient conditions
Other Properties: Hard, brittle at room temperature, high strength at elevated temperatures, low thermal expansion; non-flammable as solid

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended conditions; highly resistant to corrosion at room temperature
Reactivity: Minimal, but powdered tungsten poses fire or explosion risk if exposed to high temperature and oxidizers
Hazardous Reactions: None under normal processing conditions; slow reaction with hot nitric acid or fluorine
Conditions to Avoid: Contact with strong oxidizing agents, high temperature, formation of airborne dust
Decomposition Products: Tungsten oxides may form if exposed to fire or molten state in air

Toxicological Information

Acute Toxicity: Not acutely toxic by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact in solid form
Chronic Effects: Inhaled tungsten dust over long periods can lead to hard-metal lung disease (pulmonary fibrosis) especially for workers in machining or powder handling
Skin/Eye Irritation: Tungsten filings or dust can cause minor skin or mechanical eye irritation
Carcinogenicity: IARC, ACGIH, NTP do not classify tungsten metal as a human carcinogen
Other Effects: No evidence of reproductive toxicity for pure tungsten; alloys containing nickel or cobalt may increase risk, but pure tubing rarely contains these at significant levels
Medical Conditions Aggravated: Pre-existing respiratory conditions, asthma, or metal allergies

Ecological Information

Persistence and Degradability: Tungsten metal is highly stable, does not decompose rapidly in natural environments
Bioaccumulative Potential: Tungsten does not biomagnify, but nanoparticulate tungsten can persist in soils and sediments
Aquatic Toxicity: Poorly soluble, low inherent toxicity to aquatic organisms at environmental concentrations
Soil Mobility: Insoluble, particles tend to settle out of suspension, can remain at spill site
Other Adverse Effects: Industrial particulate run-off can affect sediment quality; recycling minimizes environmental load

Disposal Considerations

Disposal Methods: Collect shavings, chips, and dust in sealed containers for recycling or disposal at approved facilities
Special Considerations: Separate tungsten waste from hazardous chemical waste streams; most industrial tungsten is recycled
Environmental Cautions: Avoid discharge into sewers, watercourses, or open ground
Waste Codes: Not classified as hazardous material under U.S. RCRA, but local/state regulations may apply based on contamination
Best Practice: Encourage returns for material reclaim, minimize solid waste

Transport Information

UN Number: Not regulated as a dangerous good under ADR/RID, IMDG, or ICAO/IATA
Shipping Name: Tungsten Tubing
Transport Hazard Class: Not applicable
Packing Group: Not applicable
Transport Precautions: Use sturdy containers to prevent shifting, protect from impact and moisture during transit
Labeling Requirements: Industrial label, origin and destination, no hazardous labeling required for solid metal

Regulatory Information

TSCA Status: Listed on U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory
REACH Status: Registered, exempt for fabricated articles in the EU
OSHA: Considered an article, limited hazard except when producing dust
WHMIS (Canada): Not controlled in solid form
Other Regulations: Tungsten tubing not subject to specific international restrictions; user must ensure compliance with local workplace safety standards
Labelling: Required information: chemical name, manufacturer, emergency contact, batch number, hazard warnings if machining is performed on-site