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Chemical Datasheet

PERLITE

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 93763-70-3
  • 130885-09-5
 none data unavailable none
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Perlite
  • PERLITE
NFPA 704
data unavailable
General Description
An odorless, light-gray to glassy-black solid. A naturally occurring aluminosilicate rock. May contain trace amounts of crystalline silica dust, a chronic health hazard by inhalation.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
none
Air & Water Reactions
No rapid reaction with air. No rapid reaction with water.
Fire Hazard
No information available.
Health Hazard
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Perlite:

Exposure Routes: Inhalation, skin and/or eye contact

Symptoms: Irritation eyes, skin, throat, upper respiratory system

Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system (NIOSH, 2023)
Reactivity Profile
PERLITE is non-flammable and non-combustible. Mostly chemically inert. Soluble in hot concentrated alkali and HF. Moderately soluble (<10%) in 1 molar NaOH. Slightly soluble in dilute strong acids. Very slightly soluble in water or weak acids. No chemical incompatibilities reported. When heated to a sufficiently high temperature, it expands to between four and twenty times its original volume as its 2-6% by weight of loosely bound water boils away. When quickly heated to above 1600 degrees F, pops like popcorn as its water vaporizes. Expanded perlite is a fluffy, white particulate.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

No information available.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
No information available.
Firefighting
No information available.
Non-Fire Response
No information available.
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Perlite:

Skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for personal protective equipment for the body.

Eyes: No recommendation is made specifying the need for eye protection.

Wash skin: No recommendation is made specifying the need for washing the substance from the skin (either immediately or at the end of the work shift).

Remove: No recommendation is made specifying the need for removing clothing that becomes wet or contaminated.

Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the workshift. (NIOSH, 2023)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Perlite:

Eye: IRRIGATE IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately.

Breathing: FRESH AIR - If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. Other measures are usually unnecessary. (NIOSH, 2023)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula: data unavailable
Flash Point: data unavailable
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): data unavailable
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): data unavailable
Autoignition Temperature: data unavailable
Melting Point: greater than 2000°F (NIOSH, 2023)
Vapor Pressure: 0 mmHg (approx) (NIOSH, 2023)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity: 2.2 to 2.4 (crude), 0.05 to 0.3 (expanded) (NIOSH, 2023)
Boiling Point: data unavailable
Molecular Weight: varies (NIOSH, 2023)
Water Solubility: less than 1 % (NIOSH, 2023)
Ionization Energy/Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: data unavailable

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

No AEGL information available.

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

No ERPG information available.

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Perlite; (Fused NaKAl silicate, < 1% quartz) (93763-70-3) 15 mg/m3 230 mg/m3 1400 mg/m3
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

No regulatory information available.

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

No regulatory information available.

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

No regulatory information available.

Alternate Chemical Names