No metadata available
Chemical Identity
CAS Number
124-38-9
Formula
CO₂
Molecular Weight
44.01 g/mol
Exposure Limits Comparison
Health Effects
Asphyxiation At High Concentration
Yes
Respiratory Stimulation
Yes
Narcosis
Yes
Generally Non Toxic
Yes
Yi-Chun LinPh.D.Taiwan
Laser Materials ProcessingPublished
Jan 6, 2026
Carbon Dioxide Compound
Carbon Dioxide Compound safety information for laser cleaning. Health hazards, exposure limits, and protective equipment requirements.
Chemical Properties
Detection Monitoring
- SensorTypes
- Infrared (NDIR)
- Electrochemical
- Thermal conductivity
- DetectionRange
- 0-50,000 ppm typical (0-5%)
- AlarmSetpoints
- Low
- 5000 ppm (0.5%) - OSHA TWA/NIOSH REL
- High
- 10,000 ppm (1%) - physiological effects begin
- Evacuate
- 40,000 ppm (4%) - NIOSH IDLH
- ColorimetricTubes
- Dräger CO2 0.01%/a
- Gastec 2L
- Kitagawa 126
- AnalyticalMethods
Method Technique DetectionLimit NIOSH 6603 NDIR (Non-dispersive infrared) 50 ppm Detector tubes Colorimetric 0.01% - OdorThreshold
- Not applicable - odorless at all concentrations. No warning property. MUST use instruments.
Environmental Impact
- AquaticToxicity
- Low direct toxicity. LC50 (fish): >100 mg/L. Acidifies water (forms carbonic acid). High levels suffocate aquatic life.
- Biodegradability
- Not applicable (natural component of carbon cycle).
- Bioaccumulation
- Does not bioaccumulate.
- SoilMobility
- High mobility as gas. Absorbed by alkaline soils forming carbonates.
- AtmosphericFate
- Major greenhouse gas. Atmospheric residence: 30-95 years. Essential for photosynthesis. Removed by plants and ocean absorption.
- OzoneDepletion
- false
- GlobalWarmingPotential
- 1 (reference gas)
- ReportableReleases
- Water
- Not reportable
- Air
- Not reportable (natural atmospheric component)
Ppe Requirements
- Respiratory
- SCBA for >5% (50,000 ppm) or oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Not required for normal ambient levels.
- Eye Protection
- Safety glasses for dry ice handling. No protection needed for gas.
- Skin Protection
- Insulated gloves for liquid/solid CO2 (dry ice) - cryogenic hazard. No protection needed for gas at normal levels.
Reactivity
- Stability
- Stable under normal conditions.
- Polymerization
- Will not polymerize
- IncompatibleMaterials
- Reactive metals (cesium, sodium, potassium)
- Metal acetylides
- Strong bases (forms carbonates)
- Ammonia (forms ammonium carbamate)
- HazardousDecomposition
- Carbon dioxide (already stable)
- Carbon monoxide (only at very high temperatures)
- ConditionsToAvoid
- High heat (cylinder explosion)
- Reactive metals
- ReactivityHazard
- Generally non-reactive. Reacts with strong bases. May react with reactive metals. Solid CO2 causes embrittlement of some materials.
Regulatory Classification
- UnNumber
- UN1013 (compressed gas), UN1845 (solid/dry ice)
- DotHazardClass
- 2.2 (Non-flammable gas)
- DotLabel
- Non-flammable Gas
- NfpaCodes
- Health
- 1
- Flammability
- 0
- Reactivity
- 0
- Special
- SA (Simple Asphyxiant)
- EpaHazardCategories
- Simple asphyxiant
- Cryogenic hazard (dry ice)
- SaraTitleIii
- false
Contaminants That Produce Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide is produced as a complete combustion byproduct when laser energy fully oxidizes carbonaceous contaminants. Paint, oil, grease, and organic residue ablation generates CO2 alongside water vapor. While non-toxic at typical cleaning concentrations, CO2 monitoring is recommended in confined spaces to prevent oxygen displacement.
No metadata available
Aerospace Sealant Residue
No metadata available
Algae and Lichen Growth
No metadata available
Anti-Seize Compound
No metadata available
Biological Blood Residue
No metadata available
Bitumen and Tar Coatings
No metadata available
Bronze Patina and Corrosion
No metadata available
Organic Biofilm Deposits
Chemical Properties
Molecular formula, CAS number, molecular weight, and chemical structure
- Type
- chemical_properties
- Id
- carbon-dioxide-physical-data
Physical Properties
Chemical and physical characteristics
- BoilingPoint
- -78.5°C (-109.3°F) sublimes at 1 atm
- MeltingPoint
- -56.6°C (-69.9°F) @ 5.1 atm
- VaporPressure
- 830 psi @ 20°C
- VaporDensity
- 1.52 (Air=1)
- SpecificGravity
- 1.56 (solid @ -79°C), 0.77 (liquid @ 0°C)
- FlashPoint
- Not applicable (non-flammable)
- AutoignitionTemp
- Not applicable
- ExplosiveLimits
- Not applicable (does not burn)
- Appearance
- Colorless gas, white solid (dry ice)
- Odor
- Odorless
Alternative Names
Synonyms and chemical identifiers
- Synonyms
- CO2
- Carbonic anhydride
- Carbonic acid gas
- Dry ice (solid)
- CommonTradeNames
- Dry ice
- OtherIdentifiers
- RtecsNumberFF6400000EcNumber204-696-9PubchemCid280
Health Effects
Adverse health impacts from exposure to this compound
- Route
- inhalation
- Effect
- Asphyxiation due to oxygen displacement, leading to unconsciousness and potential death at concentrations >10%
- Severity
- severe
- Onset
- immediate
- Route
- inhalation
- Effect
- Headache, dizziness, and increased heart rate at concentrations 3-5%
- Severity
- moderate
- Onset
- short-term
- Route
- inhalation
- Effect
- Respiratory acidosis and hyperventilation at prolonged exposure to elevated levels
- Severity
- high
- Onset
- long-term
- Route
- eye_contact
- Effect
- Mild irritation from direct high-pressure exposure
- Severity
- low
- Onset
- immediate
- Route
- skin_contact
- Effect
- Frostbite or irritation if in liquefied form (dry ice)
- Severity
- moderate
- Onset
- immediate
Personal Protective Equipment
Required safety equipment for handling this compound
- Respiratory
- SCBA for >5% (50,000 ppm) or oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Not required for normal ambient levels.
- Skin
- Insulated gloves for liquid/solid CO2 (dry ice) - cryogenic hazard. No protection needed for gas at normal levels.
- Eye
- Safety glasses for dry ice handling. No protection needed for gas.
- MinimumLevel
- Level D for normal operations, Level B for confined spaces or high concentrations
- SpecialNotes
- Simple asphyxiant - displaces oxygen. Heavier than air - accumulates in low areas. Dry ice causes frostbite. Physiological effects >1% concentration.
Exposure Limits
OSHA, NIOSH, and ACGIH exposure thresholds
- OshaPelPpm
- 5000
- OshaPelMgM3
- 9000
- NioshRelPpm
- 5000
- NioshRelMgM3
- 9000
- AcgihTlvPpm
- 5000
- AcgihTlvMgM3
- 9000
- WorkplaceExposure
- OshaPeltwa8Hr: 5000 ppmstel15Min: nullceiling: 30000 ppmNioshReltwa8Hr: 5000 ppmstel15Min: 30000 ppmceiling: nullidlh: 40,000 ppm (4%)AcgihTlvtwa8Hr: 5000 ppmstel15Min: 30000 ppmceiling: nullBiologicalExposureIndices
Storage Requirements
Safe storage conditions and compatibility
- TemperatureRange
- Store cylinders <52°C. Dry ice requires insulated storage <-78°C.
- Ventilation
- Good ventilation essential. Outdoor storage preferred for large quantities. Monitor oxygen levels in storage areas.
- Incompatibilities
- Reactive metals (cesium, sodium, potassium)
- Metal acetylides
- Bases (reacts forming carbonates)
- ContainerMaterial
- Steel cylinders for compressed gas. Insulated containers for dry ice.
- Segregation
- None required. Keep away from reactive metals.
- QuantityLimits
- Cylinders per fire code. Dry ice quantities limited by storage capacity.
- SpecialRequirements
- Cylinder restraints mandatory. Oxygen monitoring in storage areas. Post "SIMPLE ASPHYXIANT" signs. Adequate ventilation critical. Never store in confined spaces without ventilation and O2 monitoring.
Emergency Response
Procedures for spills, exposure, and incidents
- FireHazard
- Non-flammable. Used as fire suppressant. Cylinders may explode when heated.
- FireSuppression
- Not applicable. CO2 extinguishes fires. If cylinder in fire, cool with water spray from maximum distance or evacuate - explosion hazard.
- SpillProcedures
- Liquid/dry ice release: Ventilate area immediately. Evacuate low-lying areas - CO2 heavier than air. Monitor oxygen levels. Do not touch dry ice - frostbite.
- ExposureImmediateActions
- Remove to fresh air immediately. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Administer 100% oxygen. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist. For dry ice contact: treat as frostbite - warm affected area gradually.
- EnvironmentalHazards
- Greenhouse gas. Contributes to ocean acidification. Generally non-toxic to wildlife at normal atmospheric levels.
- SpecialHazards
- SIMPLE ASPHYXIANT - displaces oxygen. Heavier than air - accumulates in pits, tanks, confined spaces. Physiological effects: >1% increased respiration, >5% headache/dizziness, >10% unconsciousness, >20-30% death. ODORLESS - no warning. Dry ice causes severe frostbite.
Regulatory Classification
DOT, UN, and NFPA hazard classifications
- UnNumber
- UN1013 (compressed gas), UN1845 (solid/dry ice)
- DotHazardClass
- 2.2 (Non-flammable gas)
- DotLabel
- Non-flammable Gas
- NfpaCodes
- Health1Flammability0Reactivity0SpecialSA (Simple Asphyxiant)
- EpaHazardCategories
- Simple asphyxiant
- Cryogenic hazard (dry ice)
- SaraTitleIii
- false
Environmental Impact
Toxicity, biodegradability, and environmental fate
- AquaticToxicity
- Low direct toxicity. LC50 (fish): >100 mg/L. Acidifies water (forms carbonic acid). High levels suffocate aquatic life.
- Biodegradability
- Not applicable (natural component of carbon cycle).
- Bioaccumulation
- Does not bioaccumulate.
- SoilMobility
- High mobility as gas. Absorbed by alkaline soils forming carbonates.
- AtmosphericFate
- Major greenhouse gas. Atmospheric residence: 30-95 years. Essential for photosynthesis. Removed by plants and ocean absorption.
- OzoneDepletion
- false
- GlobalWarmingPotential
- 1 (reference gas)
- ReportableReleases
- WaterNot reportableAirNot reportable (natural atmospheric component)
FAQ
Common Questions and Answers
What are the safe exposure limits for CO₂ during laser cleaning operations, and how can I monitor them?
- Occupational exposure limits for CO₂ as an asphyxiant are set by OSHA at 5,000 ppm (0.5%) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), with a short-term exposure limit of 30,000 ppm (3%) for no more than 10 minutes, and levels above 4% (40,000 ppm) can cause immediate oxygen displacement and loss of consciousness. To monitor, use portable CO₂ gas detectors or multi-gas monitors calibrated for real-time ppm readings in your workspace, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas during laser cleaning. Always ensure oxygen levels remain above 19.5% and integrate alarms that trigger at or below these limits to prevent asphyxiation risks.
Detection & Monitoring
Methods for detecting and measuring this compound
- SensorTypes
- Infrared (NDIR)
- Electrochemical
- Thermal conductivity
- DetectionRange
- 0-50,000 ppm typical (0-5%)
- AlarmSetpoints
- Low5000 ppm (0.5%) - OSHA TWA/NIOSH RELHigh10,000 ppm (1%) - physiological effects beginEvacuate40,000 ppm (4%) - NIOSH IDLH
- ColorimetricTubes
- Dräger CO2 0.01%/a
- Gastec 2L
- Kitagawa 126
- AnalyticalMethods
- [object Object]
- [object Object]
- OdorThreshold
- Not applicable - odorless at all concentrations. No warning property. MUST use instruments.
Reactivity
Chemical reactivity and incompatibilities
- Stability
- Stable under normal conditions.
- Polymerization
- Will not polymerize
- IncompatibleMaterials
- Reactive metals (cesium, sodium, potassium)
- Metal acetylides
- Strong bases (forms carbonates)
- Ammonia (forms ammonium carbamate)
- HazardousDecomposition
- Carbon dioxide (already stable)
- Carbon monoxide (only at very high temperatures)
- ConditionsToAvoid
- High heat (cylinder explosion)
- Reactive metals
- ReactivityHazard
- Generally non-reactive. Reacts with strong bases. May react with reactive metals. Solid CO2 causes embrittlement of some materials.
Incredibly fast, clean - and easy to do yourself.
It's finally here in the Bay area. We'll arrive with everything you need. Try it out free:
