WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Choosing the correct type of FIBC bulk bags for your product transportation could be tricky ground, but necessary. Flammable products, if stored in the wrong bulk bag – would be exposed to the electrical charge built up by the powdered substances inside. Picking the correct bulk bag type for your storing purposes not only keeps your products safe but also reduce additional costs of unnecessary FIBC packaging.
TYPES OF FIBC BULK BAGS
Type A FIBC:
Type A FIBC bulk bags which are made with non-conductive fabrics – come with no static protection. Type A bulk bags are strictly for transporting non-flammable goods, while also having zero flammable solvents or gaseous atmosphere in or around the bulk bag. If the minimum ignition energy is ≤1,000mJ, we do not recommend this bulk bag.
Type B FIBC:
Also manufactured of plain-woven polypropylene or such non-conductive material just like type A bulk bags, type B FIBC bulk bags are not actively charged to dispel static electricity. However, one huge advantage of type B bulk bags over type A FIBC is that the former is made to repel propagating brush discharges that are likely to occur due to contacts between flammable powder molecules. This still does not make type B bulk bags completely anti-static. Type B FIBC bulk bags can often be used in transporting dry, flammable powders, yet with the assurance that no combustible solvents or gases are present around the bulk bag. To be specific, the type B bulk bag should not be used where dust with ignition energies lower than 3mJ are active.
Type C FIBC/ Conductive FIBC/ Ground-able FIBC:
These bulk bags are made of non-conductive polypropylene fabrics woven together. The net of fabrics consists of conductive threads sewn in the pattern of a grid, customarily. While being electrically interconnected, the threads in the bulk bag are also connected to a selected grounding wire. This connection to the earth should be maintained during filling and discharging, and it is also the crucial factor of safe usage of type C FIBC bulk bags.
FIBC bulk bags of this type can be used without hesitation in transporting flammable powders. The presence of flammable gases and solvents around the bulk bag is not a hindrance, unlike in type A and B bulk bags. Nevertheless, type C FIBC bulk bags are not a smart choice when there is a damaged ground connection or none at all.
Type D FIBC:
Type D bulk bags are just ideal when a dispelling of electrostatic charge is needed sans the ground/earth connection. As the bulk bag is made from anti-static and static dissipative fabric, the FIBC comes with the power of preventing occurrences of brush discharges and inflammable sparks. These bulk bags are manufactured with fabric containing quasi-conductive thread. This bulk bag thread is capable of deliberately dissipating static electricity into the atmosphere. The advantage of using type D bulk bags is that they are capable of transporting inflammable products without the risk of electricity charges occurring, under flammable atmospheric environments.
Unlike in all previous bulk bag types, type D FIBC has the full potential to prevent static chargers on all occasions alike. Bulk bags of this type are used in transporting combustible powders, even with flammable gases and solvents active around the bulk bag. Even then, before using type D FIBC bulk bags for product transportation purposes, it should be clarified that the exterior surface of the bulk bag is not contaminated with combustible substances like grease or lubricant.
COATED AND UNCOATED FIBC BULK BAGS
Coated FIBC
The concept of a coated bulk bag is straightforward. The coating of an FIBC bulk bag, just like the name suggests – acts as a protection. While the structure of the coated bulk bags is similar to that of an uncoated bulk bag, there is the prominent difference of adding an extra polypropylene film to either the inside or outside of the coated bulk bag’s fabric. This is done to seal the small holes of the bulk bag’s poly weaves.
The advantage of adding a coating to the bulk bag is to prevent dust, damp and dirt of the typical warehouse environments from entering the FIBC content, and to prevent the content from inside the bag from getting stuck to the woven thread. To do both efficiently, the coating of the bulk bag is often added from inside. As buyers, you can try pressing the woven threads of the bulk bag before purchasing, to see if the thread spreads apart to reveal the gaps. Upon close scrutinizing of both inside and out, you could clarify if it is a coated bulk bag or not.
Coated bulk bags prove to be of tremendous use in storing powdered, flaked and granulated content like cement, flour, sugar, detergents and more of the like – because the small particles no longer get stuck to the fabric when the FIBC coating is present. It also creates a successful blockage from exposure to moisture, water and dust.
Un-coated FIBC
Bulk bags are commonly made with weaving polypropylene together. Un-coated bulk bags are made of the same construction pattern, but minus the additional polypropylene sheen that coated bulk bags have. Transporting powdered products in un-coated bulk bags is inappropriate because the particles tend to stick between the thread. The continuous lingering of powders and granules in the containers would make them unusable after some time. Therefore it is better to use un-coated FIBC bulk bags for storing products of larger granule size, like corn, seed and grain. Goods which would tend to spoil inside sealed bulk bags might need to breathe. Un-coated FIBC bulk bags are the immediate solution.
Purchasing the bulk bag which suits your product transportation requirements can be done under the criteria as mentioned above. The choice of FIBC bulk bags depends on the combustibility, size and form of your products. Getting a custom manufactured bulk bag to tally your list of needs would be your best option because each bulk bag product requirement differs from another.
Komol Plastics is a leading poly bags supplier in Canada and you can contact us at anytime if you have questions regarding our poly woven bags.
