Recently work was conducted at FM Global focused on flammable liquids with closed cup flashpoints between 93°C (200°F) and 260°C (500°F) stored in composite intermediate bulk containers, a.k.a.IBCs. Small-scale testing consisting of a variable temperature exposure test and a material compatibilitytest, along with large-scale testing were conducted to gain an understanding of the failure modes of IBCs.The small-scale testing has shown that the time to failure and the failure mechanism of the polyethyleneplastic IBC bottles is a function of the fluid. Hydrocarbon based fluids tend to permeate into the materialas the polyethylene is heated, softening it, thus resulting in large tears. Water has no interaction with thepolyethylene and the failure mechanism is attributed solely to melting of the polyethylene presumably at alocal void in the sample. These data agree with the previous findings by the Health and SafetyLaboratory in the UK and provides an explanation for the differences in failure times and failure modesobserved in large-scale testing between different facilities and water filled and mineral seal oil filledIBCs.
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