Summary. MDC is not flammable: it has no flash point and is non-flammable under normal conditions, but it is toxic. It is Carcinogen Cat. 1B (H350), signal word DANGER, UN 1593 Class 6.1 PG III. Store below 35 °C and locked up (per the SDS). This guide is a reading aid and receiving checklist; read the full SDS before handling.
Most buyers first meet MDC as a line on a purchase order: Methylene Di Chloride (methylene dichloride, dichloromethane, DCM, CAS 75-09-2). The questions that follow come from stores, EHS and transport teams. This guide reads the Safety Data Sheet that SPC issues for the Methylene Di Chloride (MDC) we supply. The full GHS classification, UN 1593 transport table and hazard summary are on the product page, so they are not repeated here. This page explains how to use them. It does not replace the SDS.
Is MDC flammable?
No. Section 9 of the SDS lists the flash point as not applicable, and section 5 describes MDC as non-flammable under normal conditions. SDS section 9 lists an approximate flammability range of 14 to 22% in air but notes it needs a highly elevated temperature; MDC is not readily flammable under normal conditions. As general knowledge, this is one reason MDC is chosen where a flammable solvent would be a fire risk.
Non-flammable does not mean safe. Two points matter for fire and heat scenarios:
- On heating, MDC decomposes to phosgene, hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (SDS section 5). Phosgene and hydrogen chloride are toxic, so a fire near MDC containers is a toxic-fume event and the SDS asks for full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus.
- The SDS gives a boiling point of 39.8 °C and a vapour pressure of about 440 mmHg at 25 °C. With that much vapour pressure at room temperature, keep drums closed and out of direct sun and away from hot process lines.
Why is a non-flammable solvent Class 6.1?
Transport hazard class follows the most important danger in transit, and for MDC that danger is toxicity, not fire. The SDS lists UN 1593, proper shipping name DICHLOROMETHANE, Class 6.1 (Toxic), Packing Group III. As general knowledge, Packing Group III is the lowest of the three packing groups. Our SDS (section 14) notes UN-certified packaging and a Class 6.1 placard, and says to confirm details with your freight forwarder.
Note that the paperwork uses dichloromethane, not MDC. If a transporter or port agent asks for the proper shipping name, it is DICHLOROMETHANE.
Is MDC carcinogenic? The H350 label
The SDS classifies MDC as Carcinogen Category 1B with hazard statement H350, may cause cancer. This is the classification on SPC's SDS. Other sources may list a different category; follow the SDS issued with your delivery, and check with your EHS adviser if two documents disagree.
What MDC must be kept away from
| Keep MDC away from | What to check in your store |
|---|---|
| Strong oxidisers | Shelving and bunding shared with oxidiser stock |
| Strong alkalis | Caustic stored or handled nearby |
| Aluminium, and aluminium chloride at heat | Fittings, containers and tank materials; confirm compatibility with your container supplier |
| Active metals (sodium, potassium, magnesium) | Metal stock and reagent cabinets |
Source: SPC Safety Data Sheet, section 10. The right-hand column is a checking prompt, not an SDS statement.
Storage conditions that the SDS specifies
Section 7 of the SDS asks for storage below 35 °C, away from heat and direct sunlight, locked up, and segregated from food, feed and oxidisers. SPC supplies MDC in steel barrels (a 250 kg MS barrel). Confirm container compatibility with your container supplier before use. In an uncooled store the 35 °C ceiling is the condition most likely to be tested, and shade, ventilation and a thermometer are cheap controls. Keep containers closed between uses: with a boiling point near 40 °C, an open container puts vapour in the workplace air.
Exposure limits quoted in the SDS
- OSHA PEL: 25 ppm TWA (construction).
- ACGIH TLV: 50 ppm TWA.
- EU OEL: 100 ppm TWA.
- India: the SDS asks you to verify the current national schedule.
As general knowledge, the figures differ because they come from different regulators and reviews. Verify the Indian schedule with your factory-inspector or EHS adviser instead of assuming one of these applies. As general guidance, with a Category 1B carcinogen keep exposure as low as practicable. The SDS recommends closed systems or local exhaust ventilation, and continuous monitoring in enclosed spaces.
SDS section 8 says explosion-proof equipment is not required because MDC is non-flammable; section 7 still asks for bonded/earthed containers and to keep MDC away from heat and ignition sources. Confirm your own site requirements with your EHS adviser.
A receiving checklist for MDC
- Match the CAS number 75-09-2 and the UN number 1593 on the delivery papers.
- Check the batch Certificate of Analysis against the TDS limits on the product page.
- Confirm the barrels are sealed and undamaged, with Class 6.1 labels.
- Move them straight to a shaded, ventilated store below 35 °C, locked.
- Keep them away from oxidisers, alkalis, aluminium and active metals.
- Make sure the SDS (PDF) is available at the point of use.
Related reading and where to buy
For uses and the Chennai supply route, see our guide to Methylene Dichloride (MDC) supplier in Chennai; a related chlorinated product is chloroform, which has its own safety data sheet. SPC is a distributor, not a manufacturer. We supply stabilised technical-grade MDC, 99.95% min by GC, with a batch Certificate of Analysis with every delivery. Send the grade, quantity, pack and delivery location by WhatsApp to +91 86087 80096 and we quote within 4 working hours.