Product Name: Methacryloyloxyethyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride
Common Synonyms: DMC, METMAC
Chemical Formula: C10H20ClNO2
CAS Number: 26161-33-1
Molecular Weight: 221.73 g/mol
Manufacturer: Leading chemical plants, specialty monomers divisions
Contact Information: See label or SDS from supplier for emergency lines and industrial support
Recommended Use: Used in water treatment, papermaking, textiles, and acrylic-based co-polymers
GHS Classification: Skin Irritant (Category 2), Eye Irritant (Category 2A), Acute Toxicity Oral (Category 4)
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Causes skin irritation; causes serious eye irritation; harmful if swallowed
Precautionary Statements: Wash hands after handling, wear suitable protective gloves, clothing, and eye/face protection; avoid releasing to environment
Pictograms: Exclamation mark, health hazard
Routes of Entry: Inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, eye contact
Potential Health Effects: Redness, dermatitis, blurred vision, nausea, irritation in mucous membranes
Chemical Name: Methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride
Concentration: >80% (typical for technical grade)
Chemical Family: Methacrylate-based quaternary ammonium compounds
Impurities: Water (up to 15%), stabilizer (trace), residual solvents (trace)
Additives: Usually none except for inhibitor such as MEHQ often found at ppm levels
Other Components: Not expected at significant levels
General Advice: Move affected person from exposure, keep warm and at rest
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air, seek medical attention if symptoms persist (shortness of breath, coughing, headache)
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash with water for at least 15 minutes, use soap
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, hold eyelids open, consult physician promptly
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, never induce vomiting, seek immediate medical advice, provide product label to medical responders
Most Important Symptoms: Can lead to skin burn, eye damage, or gastrointestinal distress in severe cases
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, foam, carbon dioxide, water spray (do not use direct water jet)
Special Hazards Arising from Substance: Under fire, may release toxic fumes such as nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus
Explosion Sensitivity: Not classified as explosive, but vapors could intensify combustion in confined spaces
Fire Behavior: Polymerization in fire may release additional heat and smoke; run-off can pollute waterways
Firefighting Procedures: Prevent run-off from entering storm drains or watercourses; cool containers at risk with water
Personal Precautions: Evacuate non-essential personnel, prevent skin and eye contact, ventilate area
Environmental Precautions: Block spills from entering drains, surface water, and soil; alert local authorities where large quantities are released
Methods for Containment: Contain spilled material with absorbent (sand, earth, inert material); avoid further spreading
Clean-Up Procedures: Shovel or sweep up, collect in suitable closed container for disposal, wash area with water (avoid high pressures, prevent splashing)
Cleanup Crew Protection: Wear chemical-resistant gloves, protective clothing, and safety goggles or full-face shield
Handling: Use in well-ventilated area, avoid contact with skin, eyes, clothing; do not breathe vapors or mist; keep chemical away from heat, sparks, and incompatible substances
Storage: Store in tightly closed containers, away from oxidizers, acids, and bases; maintain storage temperature between 5°C and 30°C to prevent degradation or polymerization
Storage Environment: Dry, cool, and ventilated conditions; store away from sources of ignition and direct sunlight
Special Requirements: Keep container upright and properly labeled; ensure secondary containment for large storage tanks
Packaging Materials: Compatible with stainless steel, high-density polyethylene, glass; check seals regularly for leaks
Exposure Limits: No established OSHA PEL or ACGIH TLV, industrial hygiene recommends minimizing exposure as much as possible
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation, closed process systems, eyewash stations in work area
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical safety goggles, face shield, chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene), long-sleeved clothing, impervious apron
Respiratory Protection: Approved respirator if ventilation is inadequate or for bulk handling operations
Industrial Hygiene: Wash hands and skin after handling; remove contaminated clothing and launder before reuse; avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in chemical use areas
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Mild characteristic odor
pH: 4.0 – 6.0 (10% solution)
Melting Point: Less than 0°C (solidifies below freezing)
Boiling Point: Above 100°C under standard atmospheric conditions
Flash Point: Not highly flammable, flash point greater than 100°C
Solubility: Completely soluble in water
Density: 1.04 – 1.07 g/cm³ at 20°C
Viscosity: Varies by purity and temperature, typically 10–100 mPa.s
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at room temperature
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): Not expected to bioaccumulate—negative values reported
Auto-Ignition Temperature: Does not automatically ignite under normal conditions
Evaporation Rate: Low (similar to water)
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended handling and storage conditions
Polymerization Hazard: May polymerize violently if mixed with strong oxidizers, acids, peroxides, or under high temperature without inhibitor
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, oxidizers, strong bases, metal salts (may cause exothermic reactions or degrade product)
Decomposition Products: Ammonium compounds, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, flame, direct sunlight, freezing, unventilated storage
Corrosiveness: Has some corrosive tendencies to carbon steel and aluminum, especially in moist or acidic environments
Acute Toxicity: Median lethal dose (oral, rat): approx. 500 – 2000 mg/kg (estimated); no vapor inhalation data available
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Causes irritation, may result in redness, dried skin, or burns on prolonged contact
Eye Damage/Irritation: Causes pain, redness, watering, possible corneal injury if not washed
Respiratory Effects: Inhalation of aerosols or vapor can irritate nose, throat, lungs
Chronic Effects: Chronic or repeated exposure may result in sensitization, dermatitis
Carcinogenicity/Mutagenicity: No conclusive animal studies; generally not considered mutagenic
Reproductive Toxicity: No evidence of reproductive toxicity in available industry data
Additional Information: No data on aspiration risk, not listed as hazardous by IARC, NTP or OSHA
Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life in high concentrations (LC50 for fish: 1 – 10 mg/L in 96 hours)
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable under environmental conditions, but may persist if released in bulk
Mobility: Highly soluble; moves easily in surface and groundwater; potential risk to aquatic environments
Bioaccumulation: No bioaccumulation expected in aquatic organisms based on log Kow <0
Other Adverse Effects: Large releases may cause eutrophication in waterways, impact microbial activity
Behavior in Sewage Treatment: Product can inhibit or disrupt biological treatment systems at high concentrations
Waste Treatment Methods: Dispose through licensed chemical disposal contractor; incinerate or landfill in accordance with federal and local regulations
Container Disposal: Triple rinse, puncture, and send for recycling or disposal; do not reuse containers for food or drink
Special Instructions: Do not discharge to sewer unless pre-treated by suitable chemical or biological means
Disposal Regulations: Follow local authority, EPA, and state waste requirements for hazardous substances
Spill Cleanup Residue: Absorbent and wash water need proper secondary containment and certified disposal; labeling and tracking required
UN Number: Not classified as dangerous goods under UN, IATA, or IMDG rules in most concentrations
Transport Hazard Class: Generally not assigned
Packing Group: Not regulated for transport by land, air, or sea
Proper Shipping Name: Quaternary ammonium compound, aqueous solution (Methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride)
Special Transport Precautions: Ensure containers are tightly sealed, upright, and clearly labeled; protect from tipping and collision
Environmental Hazards: Avoid transport with foodstuffs or strong oxidizers; take extra care to prevent container breakage or leaks during transit
Emergency Transport Response: Emergency procedures in event of spill or leak call for notification of hazardous materials coordinators and environmental response units
OSHA Regulatory Status: Product not specifically listed but considered hazardous under worker safety standards
SARA Title III: Not listed under Section 302 (extremely hazardous), but components may trigger Section 311/312 (hazard categories: immediate health, delayed health)
TSCA: Substance listed; subject to inventory update reporting
REACH Status: Registered in EU under annexes for polymer use
WHMIS (Canada): Controlled, Class D2B (toxic material causing other toxic effects)
California Proposition 65: Not listed as a carcinogen or reproductive toxin by the state of California
Other Local/International Regulations: Handled as a hazardous substance in dozens of countries due to acute toxicity and environmental risk; refer to national chemical controls for site-specific rules
Labeling Requirements: Chemical name, GHS pictograms, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, manufacturer info all required for container and transport labeling
