flynfrog wrote: ↑18 Aug 2013, 19:22
Graphite/Carbon
Graphite (commonly called "carbon") fiber
Code: Select all
Contains no ingredients now known to be hazardous by OSHA.
The normal cutting of the fiber, either [color=#FF0000]with scissors or razor blade[/color]
is suspected of generating small amounts of possibly respirable fibers.
We believe that such fiber cutting should be done in a ventilated hood
facility.
Potential Health Effects:
Eye: Dust may cause eye irritation
Skin Contact: Dust may cause skin irritation.
Skin Absorption: Not expected to be a major route of entry.
Ingestion: Not known
Inhalation: Small graphite fibers or dust are suspected as being possible inhalation hazards.
Chronic effects: A review of the literature does not show obvious long term hazard.
Carcinogenicty: No component known to be present in this product and is at > 0.1% is presently listed as a carcinogen by IARC or OSHA unless other wise noted.
Routes of exposure:
Inhalation
Permissible exposure:
15 MCCPF OSHA TWA, 10 mg/m3 ACGIH TWA (Total Dust)
CIRCLA Hazard Ratings:
Toxicity: 1 Ingnitgability: 0 Reactivity: 0 Persistence: 3
Toxicological Information:
Graphite causes benign pneumoconiosis (graphitosis). Symptoms of
pneumoconiosis from graphite exposure are dypsnea, coughing, black sputum,
bronchitis, ventricular hypertropy and impairment of pulmonary function.
X-rays will show progressive nodulation of the lungs. The theshold limit
value was set in conformity with the limit for free crystalline silica,
which may be present in graphite.
Incompatibilies:
Strong oxidizers,fluorine, peroxides
Route of entry: Inhalation, Skin or eye contact.
Target organs: Lungs, Cardiovascular system.
Symptoms:
Coughing, forceful expiration. Dyspnea, difficulty in breathing.
Black sputum, black colored expectorate. Bronchitis, inflamed bronchial
mucous membranes, pulmonary fibrosis, fibrous tissue involving lungs.
Pneumoconiosis, degenerative respiratory disease.
First Aid Measures
Eyes: In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with copious amounts of
flowing water for at least 15 minutes, retracting eye lids often.
Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses should not be
worn when working with this product.
Skin: Wash skin thoroughly with mild soap and water. Flush with luke warm
water for 15 minutes.
Inhalation: If large amounts of the dust are inhaled, move the exposed
person to fresh air at once. If symptoms persist contact
physician.
Ingestion: Not known
Storage and handling:
Store in the plastic bags in which the product is shipped, tightly sealed.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Eye/Face Protection:
ANSI 87.1 approved safety glasses with side shield when sharpening these
rods, either with razor blade or carbon rod sharpener or plain wood file.
Skin Protection:
No particular protection needed when handling this material on an
occasional basis. For converting bulk rolls of the fiber into smaller
packs, we recommend the wearing of some kind of gloves, for example,
latex gloves.
Respiratory Protection:
For the occasional cutting of a fiber, special protection is not
needed, provided it is done in a chemical fume hood with exhaust.
Other: None known
With scissors or razor blade? There´s (almost) no dust when you cut with scissors or a razor blade. I gues that must be refering to cutting carbon clothes, not carbon fiber finished (with resin).
But when cutting a finished product with CNC, dremel or sanding carbon parts, that´s a different matter
I´m posting this because I cut carbon fiber frequently, and always use my vacuum cleaner to put it next to the cutting/sanding point so it does absorb all dust, and the vacuum cleaner at the window with the air exit facing out, as I´m not sure the filters can take the carbon dust...
What about carbon brakes? I wondered about that sometime. On a crash I agree there´s no significant carbon dust, but F1 brakes are made of carbon, suffer massive wear (the whole discs each GP), and all that dust goes directly to the driver behind. Sometime it´s even visible, and at those speeds if we can see the dust, I guess it´s not that negligible...