Chemical Packaging

EPS packaging

There are two principal components of EPS: solid styrenic polymer (polystyrene beads) and a blowing agent. The blowing agent is usually Pentane, liquid hydrocarbon, a highly explosive gas. This mixture of Pentane and air has a low MIE (minimum ignition energy) that can cause explosions in handling. The safest way to eliminate this risk is to ensure that EPS beads are packed in static dissipative packaging material.

IonPhasE® IPE® Benefits

  • Immediate static dissipative property
  • Permanent static dissipative property
  • Humidity independent static dissipative property

End products

  • Multilayer films
  • FIBCs

IonPhasE® IPE® products

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Industry Standards

TR/CLC 50404, IEC61340

 

Chemical powder packaging

Powders with small particle size increase a risk for dust explosions in handling and packaging. Large surface area of particles can cause a high level of charge density.

Many materials, which are commonly known to oxidize, can generate a dust explosion, such as coal, sawdust, magnesium, ABS powder, fine pigments.  Many powdered metals (like aluminum and titanium), can form explosive suspensions in air. To support combustion, the dust must also consist of very small particles with a high surface area to volume ratio, thereby making the collective or combined surface area of all the particles very large in comparison to a dust of larger particles. Dust is defined as powders with particles less than about 500 micrometers in diameter, but finer dust will present a much greater hazard than coarse particles by virtue of the larger total surface area of all the particles.

There are many sources of ignition and a naked flame need not be the only one: over one half of the dust explosions in Germany in 2005 were reported to be from non-flame sources. Among them, the principal one was related to electrostatic discharge.

To avoid risk situations in handling and packaging, static dissipative packaging materials should be used.

IonPhasE® IPE® Benefits

  • Immediate static dissipative property
  • Permanent static dissipative property
  • Humidity independent static dissipative property

End product

  • Multilayer film packaging
  • Drums

IonPhasE® IPE® Products

Industry Guideline

TR/CLC 50404