IDENTIFICATION

Composition :

formaldehyde  Methyl alcohol     water

55% 35% 10%

EEC classification n° : European Core Inventory n° (ECOIN) :   UN :

605-001-01-2 (formic aldehyde) 603-001-00-X (methyl alcohol) CA - 50 - 00 - 0 1198

CHARACTERISTICS

Clear, colourless liquid.
Slightly viscous (the viscosity increases at low temperature)

Elcoform is a high concentration formaldehyde solution in methyl alcohol and water, easy to transport, stable in a wide temperature range :

stability :

low temperature :   high temperature :

cloud point :   stable up to

-2°C 30°

The aqueous solution of formaldehyde can be considered as a mixture of methylene glycol CH₂(OH)₂ and of polyoxymethylene glycols HO - (CH₂O)₂ - H.

At high formaldehyde concentration, large quantities of polyoxymethylene glycol are present. This polyoxymethylene glycol is only soluble at high temperature.

In the presence of alcohol, formaldehyde is present in the form of hemi-acetals in equilibrium with polyoxymethylene. These hemi-acetals are more soluble and consequently alcoholic formaldehyde solutions are more stable.

Advantages

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• Elcoform is an easy to handle, store and transport form of formaldehyde.
  
• It is stable in a wide range of temperatures.
  
• Elcoform is the ideal substitute for paraformaldehyde, suppressing the danger of storage, handling and dissolution of paraform.
  
• Higher reactivity of this formaldehyde form compared to paraforms or water formaldehyde forms.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Physical state

at 20°C : liquid at 10°C : pasty

Boiling point : 65°C

Viscosity at 20°C : 2.7 cps

Density at 20°C : 1.068

pH : 2.8 to 4.5

Vapour tension at 20°C :

13.3.103 Pa for pure methanol 101.3.103 Pa for pure formaldehyde

Flash point :

in closed cup : 40°C (NFT 6013) in open cup : 58°C (Cleveland)

Odour : characteristic pungent formaldehyde odour

Solubility :

in water at 20°C : infinite soluble in alcohols and acetones

Transport

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ADR Class 3(8), III
I.D. n° : 38
UN n° : 1198
IMO : Class 3
EMS n° : 3-06
MFAG n° : 330