Chlortrifluorid

Toxic Gases & Vapors -> Oxidizers

Reactive agents - 3rd degree

SOMEWHAT SWEET, SUFFOCATING ODOR

Sweet, irritating odor.

Somewhat sweet, suffocating odor.

1.85 at 51.8 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink

1.825 g/mL @ boiling point (liquid)

DENSITY OF GAS 3.14 g/L (AIR= 1.29)

Density of the solid = 2.530 g/cu cm @ 153 deg K

1.85 at 51.8 °F

3.779 @25 °C

COLORLESS GAS; LIQUID IS YELLOW-GREEN IN COLOR; SOLID IS WHITE

Colorless gas or a greenish-yellow liquid (below 53 degrees F) [Note: Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas].

Reacts with water (NIOSH, 2024)

decomposes in cold and hot water

Solubility in water: reaction

Reacts

53 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)

11.75 °C

12 °C

53 °F

11.75 °C @760 [mm Hg]

53 °F

In the vapor phase, chlorine trifluoride decomposes into a variety of substances, Cl2, ClF, ClOF, CLO2F, ClO2, & HF, depending upon the availability of water; of these chlorine, hydrogen fluoride & chlorine dioxide are probably of greatest toxicologic significance.

Chlorine trifluoride decomposes above 220 °C (428 °F) and may explode container.

-105 °F (USCG, 1999)

-76.34 °C

-76 °C

-105 °F

-76.34 °C

-105 °F

3.21 (NIOSH, 2024) - Heavier than air; will sink (Relative to Air)

More than three times that of air

Relative vapor density (air = 1): 3.18

3.21

1.4 atm (NIOSH, 2024)

10 mm Hg at -71.8 °C; 400 mm Hg at -4.9 °C; 760 mm Hg at 11.5 °C

1.4 atm

750 [mm Hg] @11.4 °C

1.4 atm

Danger

H270 (100%): May cause or intensify fire; oxidizer [Danger Oxidizing gases]

P220, P244, P260, P264, P271, P273, P280, P284, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P320, P321, P363, P370+P376, P391, P403, P403+P233, P405, P410+P403, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 117 reports by companies from 3 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Danger

H270: May cause or intensify fire; oxidizer [Danger Oxidizing gases]

Chlorine fluoride (ClF3) is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Chlorine fluoride (ClF3) are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: If released from container, fumes are toxic and irritating.

· Substance does not burn but will support combustion.

Not combustible but enhances combustion of other substances. Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire. Many reactions may cause fire or explosion. Risk of fire and explosion on contact with water or organic materials.

Inhalation causes extreme irritation of respiratory tract; pulmonary edema may result. Vapors are very irritating to eyes and skin; liquid causes severe burns. (USCG, 1999)

· TOXIC and/or CORROSIVE; may be fatal if inhaled or absorbed through skin.

Liquid causes second or third degree burns after short contact; [CHRIS] Chlorine trifluoride causes severe lung irritation and death in animal inhalation studies; [ACGIH] A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] See FLUORIDES.

1749 124

1749 124

Farrar RL Jr, Barber EJ; Some considerations in the handling of fluorine and the chlorine fluorides; Report (K/ET-252) 46 pages (1979). This review of the safe handling of fluorine and the chlorine fluorides includes physical, chemical, and toxicological properties; choice of materials of construction and materials in contact with the active gases; safe practices in design and operation of experiments and processes; soda lime traps and caustic scrubbing for fluorine disposal; and explosive reactions and explosive situations.

Lee SG et al; Experimental Study on Flammability Limlt of a Chlorine Trifluoride/Dichlorosilane/Nitrogen Mixture; Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 5 (3): 192-5 (1992)

Excerpt from ERG Guide 124 [Gases - Toxic and/or Corrosive - Oxidizing]:

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media. In case of fire: keep cylinder cool by spraying with water. NO direct contact with water. Combat fire from a sheltered position.

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Refer for medical attention.

First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again. Refer for medical attention .

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· Do not touch or walk through spilled material.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Chlorine trifluoride:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

This chemical will attack (react with)...fire fighter's ordinary protective clothing. ... Be very careful not to enter spill area or contact the chemical with the body or clothing.

If released from container, can increase the intensity of fire. Containers may explode.

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazard) - Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. Some are TIH materials themselves, e.g., chlorine, and some release TIH gases when spilled in water, e.g., chlorosilanes. [ERG 2016].

Do not use water water. Violent reaction may result. Use appropriate extinguishing agents on nearby combustible fires. Use of dry chemical or carbon dioxide preferred.

If material involved in fire: Do not use water on material itself. Use dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. If large quantities of combustibles are involved, use water in flooding quantities as spray and fog. Use water spray to knock-down vapors.

Wear chemical protective suit with self-contained breathing apparatus. Combat fires from safe distance or protected location. Extinguish with dry chemicals or carbon dioxide. DO NOT USE WATER OR FOAM ON ADJACENT FIRES.

Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Keep cylinders restrained. Separate from water, organic matter, glass, asbestos, sand, chlorofluorocarbons, acids, alkalies, halogens, slats, metal oxides. Outside or detached storage is preferred.

1) Ventilate area of spill or leak. 2) If in gaseous form, stop flow of gas. If source of leak is cylinder & leak cannot be stopped in place, remove...to safe place in open air, & repair leak or allow cylinder to empty. 3) If in liquid form, evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from spill area. Allow chlorine trifluoride to evaporate while providing all available ventilation.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.

inhalation, ingestion (liquid), skin and/or eye contact

Burning sensation. Cough. Sore throat. Laboured breathing. Shortness of breath.

Redness. Serious skin burns. Pain. Blisters.

Redness. Pain. Severe deep burns. Loss of vision.

Eye, skin burns (liquid or high vapor concentration); resp irritation; In Animals: lacrimation (discharge of tears), corneal ulcer; pulmonary edema

/Protect/ from exposure those individuals with pulmonary diseases.

The following medical procedures should be made available to each employee who is exposed to chlorine trifluoride at potentially hazardous levels: 1. ... A complete history and physical examination: The purpose is to detect pre-existing conditions that might place the exposed employee at increased risk, and to establish a baseline for future health monitoring. Examination of the respiratory system should be stressed. The skin and eyes should be examined for evidence of chronic disorders; 14" X 17" chest roentgenogram ... ; FVC and FEV (1 sec). ... 2. ... The aforementioned medical examinations should be repeated on an annual basis, except that an x-ray is necessary only when indicated by the results of pulmonary function testing, or when signs and symptoms of respiratory disease occur.

INHALATION EXPOSURE OF RATS AT 800 PPM ... FOR 15 MIN WAS UNIFORMLY LETHAL; HOWEVER, REDUCING EXPOSURE TIME TO 13 MIN PERMITTED SURVIVAL IN MOST TESTS. EXPOSURE AT 400 PPM FOR 35 MIN WAS ALSO UNIFORMLY LETHAL. CHLORINE TRIFLUORIDE EXPOSURES RESULTED IN INFLAMMATION OF MUCOSAL SURFACES, BURNING OF THE SKIN, AND CORNEAL ULCERATION. LUNG DAMAGE WAS ESTABLISHED FROM A DECREASED RELEASE OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE LUNG FOLLOWING ADMIN OF BICARBONATE & FROM LOWERED BLOOD PH. THE ACUTE TOXICITY OF CHLORINE TRIFLUORIDE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE COMPARABLE TO THAT OF HYDROGEN FLUORIDE ON A FLUORINE-EQUIVALENT BASIS. OF THE MAJOR DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS OF TOXICOLOGIC INTEREST, CHLORINE DIOXIDE HAD BEEN FOUND PREVIOUSLY TO BE THE MOST TOXIC; ITS ACUTE TOXICITY WAS CONSIDERED TO BE COMPARABLE TO THAT OF CHLORINE TRIFLUORIDE ON A CHLORINE EQUIVALENT BASIS.

... TWO DOGS & 20 RATS /WERE EXPOSED/ AT AN AVG CONCN OF 1.17 PPM ... FOR ... 6 MO ON A 6 HR/DAY, 5 DAY/WK BASIS. AN ADDNL 2 DOGS & 20 RATS SERVED AS CONTROLS. EARLY SIGNS OF TOXICITY IN THE DOGS WERE COUGHING, SNEEZING, RHINORRHEA, SALIVATION, PANTING RESPIRATION, AND OCCASIONAL EXPULSION OF FROTHY FLUID FROM THE MOUTH & NOSE. AFTER ABOUT 2 MO, BOTH DOGS HAD RECURRENT BOUTS OF PNEUMONIA. ONE DOG DIED ON THE 115TH DAY. SIGNS WERE NOT AS PRONOUNCED IN THE RATS; HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL WK, A BLOOD-TINGED DISCHARGE APPEARED ABOUT THE NARES AND EYES. SIX RATS DIED DURING THE COURSE OF THE EXPT. PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS WERE SEVERE PULMONARY IRRITATION IN BOTH SPECIES AMONG THE SURVIVORS AS WELL AS AMONG THE ANIMALS THAT DIED COMPARED WITH UNREMARKABLE PATHOLOGY IN THE CONTROLS.

Chlorine trifluoride is an extremely reactive, corrosive and irritating gas which experimentally has been observed to cause a severe reaction in the lungs and in all exposed mucous membranes. It it highly irritating to the skin and eyes, and has caused severe corneal ulcers in dogs.

Fluoride is protoplasmic poison that binds with calcium, inhibits enzyme systems, and activates glycolic and proteolytic mechanisms. Management consists of symptomatic and supportive care, plus the administration of calcium and the treatment of hyperkalemia. Hemodialysis may be useful in severe cases. Prognosis is largely dictated by the clinical course over the first several hours. Survival beyond 4 hours is generally associated with a favorable outcome. /Fluoride/

Chlorine trifluoride

9.9700000000000006

45

Weapons of Mass Effect chemical material that, if stolen or diverted, can be converted into weapons using simple chemistry, equipment, or techniques.

Used as a fluorinating agent and fire retardant for fluorocarbon polymers; also used to ignite rocket fuels and in the processing of fuels for nuclear reactors; [ACGIH]

FLUORINATING AGENT; IN NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL PROCESSING; INCENDIARY; IGNITER & PROPELLANT FOR ROCKETS; PYROLYSIS INHIBITOR FOR FLUOROCARBON POLYMERS

Oxidizer in propellants; cutting oil well tubes; reprocessing reactor fuels

Utilized in the processing of nuclear fuels to convert uranium to gaseous uranium hexafluoride...has also been used as a low temperature etchant for single crystalline silicon

During Word War II, ClF3 was used by Germany as an incendiary gas.

2023: 50,000 - <250,000 lb

Several metric tons per year (as of 1992, 1993)

Produced commercially by the continuous gas-phase reaction of chlorine and fluorine in a nickel reactor at 290 °C

MAY BE PURIFIED BY DISTILLATION IN SUITABLE STEEL APPARATUS

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

Chlorine fluoride (ClF3): ACTIVE

As of 1993, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc was the only US producer