Bromothane™ R Product Specification

• Safe on Most Components and Substrates •

In terms of materials compatibility, Bromothane™ R is safe on most components, substrates, ceramics, metals and manufacturing materials, except as noted in this document. It is compatible with zinc, stainless steel, carbon steel, Monel®, Iconel®, nickel, aluminum, titanium, copper and brass, glass and durable plastics. Nylon®, butyl rubber, fiberglass, HDPE and Viton® show excellent compatibility with the solvent, but acrylics, Buna N, natural rubber, ABS and polycarbonate parts can exhibit dimensional changes, weight changes, and cracking or crazing depending on time and exposure. These parts will, in most cases, revert to within a few percent of original size and weight after air drying.

Compatibility and cleanliness testing is always recommended prior converting to any Bromothane™ product.

• Nonflammable and Not a Carcinogen •

Bromothane™ R exhibits no flash point when tested using the Tag Closed Cup Test (ASTM-D-56). It is not classified as a flammable liquid by NFPA or DOT. Like many solvents used today, this product has vapor flammability limits in air, and has the potential to ignite if the vapor concentrations are between 4.0% and 7.8%. Reaching these levels in the workplace, under normal operating conditions, are highly unlikely. If there is ignition, the solvent will not sustain combustion and quickly self-extinguishes.

NPB is not listed as a carcinogen by NTP, OSHA, or ACGIH. The U.S. EPA, through the SNAP process, recommends a worker exposure level of 25 parts per million (ppm). Great Lakes Chemical Corp., the supplier of the ingredients in the Bromothane™ cleaners, recommends a level of 10 ppm.

The use of Bromothane™ R is restricted solely to engineered systems. The use of the solvent as a cold cleaner or in manual cleaning operations is not approved except in an engineered system. Bench top dipping and brushing applications are not approved due to the risk of worker exposures.

Proper storage and handling procedures, including drum pumps and personal protective equipment, should be used to avoid short-term over-exposure. The vapors are heavier than air and collect inside machines, pits, tanks and low-lying areas, so proper tank entry procedures should be used during maintenance or after spills.  MicroCare requires an annual air quality monitoring program as part of MicroCare's comprehensive Product Stewardship program.

• Bromothane Is Thermally Stable for Easy Handling and Disposal • 

Bromothane™ R is thermally stable under normal conditions and neither oxidizes nor degrades during storage. It should be stored in a clean, dry area and protected from temperature extremes. Stored product should not be allowed to exceed temperatures of 52°C (125°F) to prevent leakage or potential rupture of container from pressure and expansion.

The dispensing of Bromothane™ R requires either a manual or automatic drum pump. Pouring is not recommended due to the risk of spills and splashes and the resultant short-term over-exposure of workers to vapors. All of the Bromothane S packaging is compatible with drum pumps.

Where there is a potential for splashing or skin contact, protective equipment should be worn made of butyl rubber or other materials that are resistant to penetration by nPB. Suitable eye protection should be worn to protect against eye contact.

The vapors of Bromothane™ R are heavier than air. In the event of a large leak or spill, vapors may concentrate near the floor and displace the oxygen available for breathing. Evacuate the area and do not re-enter until the vapor concentration falls below the AEL. Never enter vapor degreasing equipment, tanks, pits or low-lying areas without proper ventilation and following the proper OSHA tank entry safety procedures.

•  Bromothane is SNAP-Accepted •

The ingredients in Bromothane™ R are proposed to be accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the “Significant New Alternatives Policy” (SNAP) program as a substitute for ozone-depleting substances. Although Bromothane™ R has a slight ozone depletion potential it is not listed as a Class II ozone-depleting substance in the Montreal Protocol. The U.S. EPA states that due to the extremely short Atmospheric Life of nPB, ozone depletion is not an issue. It also has a low global warming potential but is 100% a volatile organic material.

The components of the Bromothane™ R are listed in the TSCA inventory. NPB is not included in the SARA Title III Section 313 list of toxic chemicals, nor is it subject to SARA Title III (EPCRA) reporting, but certain materials in the stabilizer are subject to SARA reporting.

• The Product Stewardship Program Enhances Safety •

Bromothane™ R will only be offered for use in engineered cleaning systems, such as vapor degreasers, to assure compliance with worker exposure limits. MicroCare has designed a “first fill” training program which is offered to all Bromothane™ users at no cost. The program includes a comprehensive checklist to ensure proper procedures are implemented and followed. In addition, all Bromothane users are required to assure worker safety by annually running a simple workplace exposure test with air monitoring badges.

• Related Products •

A family of auxiliary products to maximize cleanliness while ensuring safety, economy and environmental acceptability supports Bromothane™ R. These include the following:

BromoTest™ Acid Acceptance Kit — A simple “Acid Acceptance Test” using the BromoTest™ kit should be performed on a regular basis to measure the condition of the solvent and the stabilizer concentration.

BromoBooster™ — This is a stabilizer booster, used to restore the proper solvent-stabilizer ratio, extending the solvent life.

Air Monitoring Badges — Exposure badges are an easy way for the employee to go about their daily routine while wearing the badge to determine the exposure to a chemical. After wearing the badge for 8 hours, the badge is sent to an independent lab to determine exposure levels.

• Packaging •

Bromothane™ R is available commercially in the following packaging:

M2S-BR2P   50 lb.(22.7 kg) Pails    5 gal. (19 L)

M2S-BR2D   500 lb.(226.8 kg) Drums    55 gal. (200 L) 

• Other Notes •

FORMULATIONS: The BromoTest™ kit and the BromoBooster™ stabilizer package are formulated specifically for the Bromothane family of solvents from MicroCare. MicroCare can not predict the effect of using these products in other nPB-based solvents, and assumes no liability for such usage.

DISCLAIMER: MicroCare publishes this information from sources believed to be accurate. This data is intended for persons having the technical skills to evaluate and use the data properly. MicroCare does not guarantee the accuracy of the data and assumes no liability in connection with damages incurred using it. MicroCare’s liability is limited to the replacement of this product. Specifications are subject to change without notice.  

Updated: May 13, 2008
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