Product Safety Summary for ε-Caprolactam
SUBSTANCE NAME
ε-caprolactam
epsilon-Caprolactam
Caprolactam
omega.-Caprolactam
2H-Azepin-2-one, hexahydro- (8CI, 9CI)
Aminocaproic lactam
2-Oxohexamethylenimine
2-Ketohexamethylenimine
2-Perhydroazepinone
6-Hexanelactam
Hexahydro-2H-azepin-2-one
6-Caprolactam
2-Azacycloheptanone
Hexahydro-2-azepinone
Hexanoic acid, 6-amino-, cyclic lactam
1-Aza-2-cycloheptanone
azepan-2-one

GENERAL STATEMENT
Caprolactam is used as an intermediate in the chemical industry to produce polyamides. Currently 73% of
the polyamide is being used for fiber based applications (carpets and clothing), while the remainder 27% isused for the production of engineering plastics (gear wheels, drive systems, intermediates into Nylon-6).

CHEMICAL IDENTITYEC Name:
EC-No. :CAS-No. :IUPAC name:
Molecular formula:
Structural formula:Ɛ-caprolactam
203-313-2
105-60-2
azepan-2-one
C6H11NO

USES AND APPLICATIONSCaprolactam is used in industrial applications as a monomer for the manufacture of polyamide, polymers,
thermoplastics, resins and thermo-hardened resins. Caprolactam is also used in the laboratory as a reagent.
Consumer uses include the use of ready-to-use products, such as coatings, paints and adhesives containing
caprolactam, and for which no dilution and mixing steps are necessary.

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Product Safety Summary for ε-Caprolactam
PHYSICAL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Caprolactam is a white organic solid with a characteristic odor.
Melting point/range:
Boiling point/boiling range:
Auto-flammability:
Explosive properties:
Auto-ignition temperature:
Molecular weight:
Water solubility:
logPow:
Vapor pressure:
Relative density:

69.3 °C
270.8 °C at 1013.25 hPa.
non-flammablenon-explosive
395 °C at 1013.25 hPa.
113.1576
866.89 g/l solution at 22°C
0.12 at 25°C
0.0013 hPa at 20°C
1.105 g/cm3 at 20°C

HEALTH EFFECTS
Based on the classification of the substance (REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008) acute exposure to
Caprolactam may result in irritation and burning of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin in humans. Caprolactam
is considered harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
EFFECT ASSESSMENT
Acute Toxicity(oral/dermal/inhalation)
Irritation/Corrosivity(skin/eye/respiratory tract)
SensitizationRepeated Exposure
Carcinogenicity
Reproductive Toxicity

RESULT
Caprolactam is harmful if swallowed and inhaled.
Caprolactam is a skin and eye irritant. Single exposure may cause
respiratory irritation.
Caprolactam has not been found to be a skin sensitizer.
This substance has not been found to be harmful throughprolonged or repeated exposure.
Caprolactam is not classified as a carcinogen.
There is no evidence to indicate adverse reproductive ordevelopmental potential to humans for Caprolactam.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Caprolactam is not classified as toxic to the environment or aquatic life. Caprolactam is not considered tohydrolyze rapidly when released to water and is readily biodegradable.
EFFECT ASSESSMENT
Aquatic Toxicity
FATE AND BEHAVIOR
Biodegradation
Bioaccumulation potential

PBT/vPvB conclusion

December 14, 2011

RESULTNot harmful to aquatic life.
RESULT
Readily biodegradable
Due to the distribution coefficient n-octanol/water anaccumulation in organisms is not expected
Regarding all available data on biotic and abiotic degradation,
bioaccumulation and toxicity it can be stated that the substancedoes not fulfill the PBT criteria (not a PBT) and not the vPvB
criteria (not a vPvB).

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Product Safety Summary for ε-Caprolactam
EXPOSURE
Human Health
The most relevant route of exposure to Caprolactam is by inhalation of workers involved in the manufacture
and use of this compound, although dermal contact and eye contact routes have to be also taken into account.
In an industrial setting, ingestion is not an anticipated route of exposure. The general population may, in theworst case, be exposed to traces of Caprolactam found in some consumer products like coatings, paints,adhesives and other ready-to-use products for which no dilution and mixing steps are necessary, such as
printing inks and toners.
Environment
Caprolactam may be released to the environment in air and water from manufacturing and industrial use
facilities. Identified uses of the substance have been assessed as safe for the environment. The substance is
not known to be directly applied to sediment and an indirect release to sediment is unlikely since thesubstance is readily biodegradable.

RISK MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Only properly trained and authorized, personnel should be allowed to handle the substance. Caprolactam
should be used in a closed system. Caprolactam is a skin irritant and therefore personal protection isrequired when there is the likelihood of exposure. Therefore, the use of chemical resistant protective gloves
should be considered. Caprolactam is an eye irritant; therefore personal protection is required when there is
the likelihood of exposure. Exposure to the eyes can occur in two ways: direct from the air (splashes,aerosols, dust) or indirect via hand-eye contact. The likelihood of hand-eye contact is considered to be very
low for all contributing scenarios due to the fact that only properly trained or authorized personnel should beallowed to handle the substance. Combined with stringent use of safety glasses with side-shields for all
exposure sources at which a likelihood of exposure exists, an effective prevention of potential eye irritation
can be achieved. Caprolactam is harmful by inhalation and causes respiratory irritation; therefore suitable
respiratory protective device shall be used when aerosol or mist is formed; respiratory filter device shall beused in case of brief exposure or low pollution; and self-contained respiratory protective device shall be usedin case of intensive or longer exposure. For personal precautions in case of accidental release: Ensure
adequate ventilation. Use breathing apparatus if exposed to vapors/dust/aerosol. For environmental
precautions in case of accidental release: Do not empty into drains. Retain and dispose of contaminated washwater.

STATE AGENCY REVIEWThis substance has been registered under REACH (EC) No. 1907/2006.
Caprolactam is included in EU HPV list (High Production Volume Chemicals) and in US HPV list.
Caprolactam is listed in the following Chemical Inventories: TSCA, ENCS, EINECS, ISHL, AICS, DSL, KECI,PICCS, IESCS, and NZIoC.

REGULATORY INFORMATION/CLASSIFICATION AND LABELINGClassification of the substance according to REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008:
Acute toxicity:
Acute toxicity:

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Category 4; Oral; H302 Harmful if swallowed.
Category 4; Inhalation; H332 Harmful if inhaled.

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Product Safety Summary for ε-Caprolactam
Skin/Eye(Corrosion/irritation):
Specific target organ toxicity- Single exposure:

Category 2; H315 Causes skin irritation.
Category 2; H319 Causes serious eye irritation.
Category 3; H335 May cause respiratory irritation.

Labeling according to REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008:
Pictogram:

Signal word:

Warning

Hazard statements:
H302: Harmful if swallowed.
H332: Harmful if inhaled.
H315: Causes skin irritation.
H319: Causes serious eye irritation.
H335: May cause respiratory irritation.

CONTACT INFORMATION WITHIN COMPANY
For further information on this substance or product safety summaries in general, please contact:
Company:
Department:
Address:
Town/Country:
Postal code:E-mail:UBE Chemical Europe, S.A
Corporate Social Responsibility
Poligono Industrial El Serrallo, s/nGrao de Castellon (Castellon), Spain
12100
sds.ube.eu@ube.es

Additional information can be found at:
http://www.ube.es
http://www.icca-chem.org/en/Home/ICCA-initiatives/global-product-strategy/

GLOSSARY
Acute toxicity
Biodegradation
Bioaccumulation
Canadian DSL
Carcinogenicity
CAS

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Harmful effect resulting from a single or shortterm exposure to a substance.
Decomposition or breakdown of a substance undernatural conditions (actions of micro organismsetc).
Progressive accumulation in living organisms of achemical substance present in the environment.
Domestic Substances List of Canada.
Substance effects causing cancer.
Chemical Abstracts Service (division of thePage 4Product Safety Summary for ε-Caprolactam
Chronic toxicity
EINECS
Flash point
Genotoxicity
GHS
HPV
Hydrolyze
Intermediate
Monomer

Mutagenicity
PBTPersistence
Risk Management Measures

REACH (EC) No. 1907/2006
REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008
Reprotoxicity
Sensitizing
SedimentTSCA
Vapor pressurevPvB

American Chemical Society).
Harmful effect after repeated exposures or longterm exposure to a substance.
European Inventory of Existing Commercial
Chemical Substances
The lowest temperature at which vapor of thesubstance may form an ignitable mixture with air.
Substance effect that causes damage to genes,
including mutagenicity and clastogenicity.
Globally Harmonized System of Classification andLabelling of Chemicals
High Production Volume Chemicals.
Undergo hydrolysis; decompose by reacting withwater.
Substance that is manufactured for and consumed
in or used for chemical processing in order to betransformed into another substance.
Means a substance which is capable of forming
covalent bonds with a sequence of additional likeor unlike molecules under the conditions of therelevant polymer-forming reaction used for theparticular process.
Substance effect that cause mutation on genes.
Persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemical.
Refers to the length of time a compound stays in
the environment, once introduced.
Engineering controls, conditions and protective
equipment needed to be implemented to ensurethat the risks to human health and theenvironment are adequately controlled.
European Commission Regulation concerning theRegistration, Evaluation, Authorisation andRestriction of Chemicals.
European Commission Regulation onClassification, Labelling and Packaging of
Substances and Mixtures.
Including teratogenicity, embryotoxicity andharmful effects on fertility.
Allergenic.
Topsoil, sand and minerals washed from land into
water forming in the end a layer at the bottom ofrivers and sea.
Toxic Substance Control Act
A measure of a substance’s property to evaporate.
Very persistent, very bioaccumulative.

DATE OF ISSUE
December 2011

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Product Safety Summary for ε-Caprolactam

REVISION
Version 1.0

DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this paper is intended as advice only and whilst the information isprovided in utmost good faith and has been based on the best information currently available, is to berelied upon at the user’s own risk. No representations or warranties are made with regards to its
completeness or accuracy and no liability will be accepted by UBE Chemical Europe, S.A for damages of
any nature whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on the information.

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