75-35-4

A clear colorless liquid with a chloroform-like odor. Flash point 0°F. Boiling point 99°F. Denser (at 10.1 lb/gal) than water and insoluble in water. Hence sinks in water. May polymerize exothermically if heated or contaminated. If the polymerization takes place inside a container, the container may rupture violently. Vapors heavier than air.

Peroxidizable monomer, such as VINYLIDENE CHLORIDE, may initiate exothermic polymerization of the bulk material [Bretherick 1979. p. 160, 187]. Mixing vinylidene chloride in equal molar portions in a closed container with any of the following substances caused the temperature and pressure to increase: chlorosulfonic acid, nitric acid, or oleum [NFPA 1991]. It's reaction products with ozone are particularly dangerous, [Dow Chemical, 1968]. This may extend to other powerful oxidants, as various peroxides are produced.

Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.

Vapor can cause dizziness and drunkenness; high levels cause anesthesia. Liquid irritates eyes and skin.

Vinylidene chloride is used in the manufacture of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform). However, the manufacture of polyvinylidene copolymers is the major use of VDC. The extruded films of the copolymers are used in packaging and have excellent resistance to water vapor and most gases. The chief copolymer is Saran (polyvinylidene chloride/vinyl chloride), a transparent film used for food packaging. The films shrink when exposed to higher than normal temperatures. This characteristic is advantageous in the heat-shrinking of overwraps on packaged goods and in the sealing of the wraps. Applications of VDC latexes include mixing in cement to produce highstrength mortars and concretes, and as binders for paints and nonwoven fabrics providing both water resistance and nonflammability. VDC polymer lacquers are also used in coating films and paper. VDC is also used to produce fibers. Monofilaments, made by extruding the copolymer, are used in the textile industry as furniture and automobile upholstery; drapery fabric; outdoor furniture; venetian-blind tape; and filter cloths.

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. If victim is conscious, administer water, or milk. Do not induce vomiting.

UN1303 Vinylidene chloride, stabilized, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid.

Readily forms explosive peroxides; violent polymerization from heat or on contact with oxidizers, chlorosulfonic acid; nitric acid; or oleum; or under the influence of oxygen, sunlight, alkali metals; aluminum, copper. Explosive on heating or on contact with flames. Inhibitors, such as the monomethyl ether of hydroquinone are added to prevent polymerization.

Colorless liquid. Readily polymerizes. Insoluble in water. Commercial product contains small proportion of inhibitor.

Vinylidene chloride is a volatile liquid. Mild, sweet odor resembling chloroform. The odor threshold in air is 500 ppm.

Return refillable compressed gas cylinders to supplier. Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform to EPA regulations governing storage, transportation, treatment, and waste disposal. Incineration, preferably after mixing with another combustible fuel. Care must be exercised to assure complete combustion to prevent the formation of phosgene. An acid scrubber is necessary to remove the halo acids produced.

Colorless liquid or gas with a mild, sweet, chloroform-like odor. The average least detectable odor threshold concentration in water at 60 °C and in air at 40 °C was 1.6 mg/L (Alexander et al., 1982).

1,1-Dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE) is used toproduce vinylidene copolymers for films andcoatings.

Intermediate in the production of "vinylidene polymer plastics" such as Saran (Dow) .

VDC is used to make various kinds of chemical intermediates, agricultural chemicals, SARAN?polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) resins and films, PVDC latex coatings, and photographic and X-ray films.

ChEBI: A member of the class of chloroethenes that is ethene in which both of the hydrogens attached to one of the carbons are replaced by chlorines.

VDC is prepared commercially by the dehydrochlorination of 1,1,2-trichloroethane using a slight excess of lime or caustic as shown in the reaction schematic. About 200 ppm of monomethyl ether of hydroquinone (MEHQ) is added to prevent polymer formation and preserve product quality.

Flammable liquid; flash point (closed cup) -18°C(0°F) (flash point data reported in the literature differ); vapor pressure 500 torr at 20°C (68°F); vapor density 3.34 (air=1); the vapor is heavier than air and can travel a considerable distance to a source of igni tion and flash back; autoignition temperature 570°C (1058°F); fire-extinguishing agent: dry chemical, CO2, or foam; use water to keep fire-exposed containers cool and to flush any spill.
1,1-DCE vapors form explosive mixtures with air within the range 7.3–16.0% by volume in air. It polymerizes at elevated temperatures. If polymerization occurs in a closed container, the container may rup ture violently. Polymerization is inhibited in the presence of 200 ppm of hydroquinone monomethyl ether (Aldrich 1997). It forms a white deposit of peroxide on long stand ing which may explode. It decomposes when involved in fire, producing toxic hydrogen chloride. Reactions with concentrated min eral acids are exothermic.

The IARC has concluded that there is inadequate evidence in humans and limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of VDC and has placed it in its Group 3 category as not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
This conclusion is consistent with the evaluation by the EPA, where VDC exhibits suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity but not sufficient evidence to assess human carcinogenic potential following inhalation exposure in studies in rodents.

Biological. 1,1-Dichloroethylene significantly degraded with rapid adaptation in a static-culture flask-screening test (settled domestic wastewater inoculum) conducted at 25 °C. Complete degradation was observed after 14 d. At concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/L, the amount lost due to volatilization at the end of 10 d was 24 and 15%, respectively (Tabak et al., 1981).
Soil. In a methanogenic aquifer material, 1,1-dichloroethylene biodegraded to vinyl chloride (Wilson et al., 1986). Under anoxic conditions, indigenous microbes in uncontaminated sediments degraded 1,1-dichloroethylene to vinyl chloride (Barrio-Lage et al., 1986).
Photolytic. Photooxidation of 1,1-dichloroethylene in the presence of nitrogen dioxide and air yielded phosgene, chloroacetyl chloride, formic acid, HCl, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and ozone (Gay et al., 1976). At 298 K, 1,1-dichloroethylene reacts with ozone at a rate of 3.7 x 10^-21 cm³/molecule?sec (Hull et al., 1973).
Chemical/Physical. At temperatures exceeding 0 °C in the presence of oxygen or other catalysts, 1,1-dichloroethylene will polymerize to a plastic (Windholz et al., 1983). The alkaline hydrolysis of 1,1-dichloroethylene yielded chloroacetylene. The reported hydrolysis half-life at 25 °C and pH 7 is 1.2 x 108 yr (Jeffers et al., 1989).