What should I do if liquid silicone leaks?

What should I do if liquid silicone leaks?
After liquid silicone (LSR) leaks, targeted treatment measures should be taken according to the leakage amount, state (uncured/cured) and environmental risks to avoid the expansion of pollution or safety problems. The following are specific treatment steps and precautions:
I. Emergency treatment principles
Ensure personnel safety
Wear protective equipment: Immediately wear rubber gloves, protective glasses, and masks (if the leakage amount is large or the ventilation is poor, a gas mask is required) to avoid skin contact or inhalation of volatile substances (some silicones may contain low volatile organic compounds).
Prohibit fire sources: Liquid silicone is generally not flammable, but it is necessary to avoid contact with open flames or high-temperature equipment (especially silicone containing solvents).
Isolate the leakage area
Evacuate irrelevant personnel, set up warning signs, and avoid stepping on the leaked material to cause it to spread.
If the leak is indoors, open doors and windows for ventilation to reduce the concentration of volatile gases; if it is outdoors, it is necessary to prevent the leak from flowing into the sewer, soil or water source.
2. Leakage treatment steps
1. Uncured liquid silicone (flowable state)
Features: It is liquid when not mixed with curing agent, and usually does not cure quickly after contact with air (two-component silicone will cure quickly if A/B materials are mixed, so special attention should be paid).
Small-scale leakage (such as a small amount of spillage):
Cover the leak with dry sand, vermiculite or absorbent cotton, collect it in a sealed plastic bag or container after complete absorption, and avoid direct washing with mops or water (which may cause spread).
If the leak is on the surface of the desktop or equipment, it can be scraped off with a scraper or cardboard, and then wipe the residue with anhydrous alcohol or white mineral oil (such as paraffin oil), and finally clean it with clean water (it is necessary to confirm that the detergent is compatible with the surface material).
Large-scale leakage (such as dumping a whole barrel):
Use sandbags or water barriers to block the leakage boundary to prevent spread.
Use a pump or scooping tool (such as a plastic shovel) to transfer the liquid silicone to a spare container (which must be a corrosion-resistant material, such as a PE barrel), and treat the remaining small amount with an absorbent material.
If two-component A/B materials leak and mix at the same time, evacuate immediately because they will cure quickly after mixing (may be accompanied by heat release), and then treat them as solid waste after curing.
2. Cured or semi-cured silicone
Features: After contact with curing agent or long-term exposure, it forms an elastomer and needs to be physically removed.
Small area of ​​solidified material:
Scrape/grind with a scraper, shovel or sandpaper, and collect in a garbage bag.
If the solidified material adheres to clothing or skin, it can be softened with mineral oil and then peeled off, and then washed with soap (avoid tearing hard to damage the skin or fabric).
Large area of ​​solidified material:
Use a crushing tool (such as a hammer, chisel) to break the solidified block and collect it in an industrial waste container.
If the solidified material enters the sewer or pipe, it needs to be handled by a professional pipe unblocking company to avoid blockage.
3. Waste treatment
Classification and disposal
Uncured silicone: If it is not mixed with impurities, it can be sealed and stored and contacted to the supplier for recycling (some silicone can be reused); if it is contaminated, it must be handed over to a qualified treatment agency as chemical waste (refer to local hazardous waste management regulations).
Curing silicone: It is a general industrial solid waste and can be landfilled or incinerated (need to confirm local environmental protection requirements, some areas may allow recycling as rubber products).
Prohibited behavior
It is strictly forbidden to flush liquid silicone directly into sewers, rivers or soil to avoid polluting water bodies and ecological environment.
Do not mix two-component silicone and discard it at will, as the solidified material may block the municipal pipe network.