Myths & Misconceptions Explained...
What is CROHMIQ® brand fabric?
Why is CROHMIQ unique?
What is a Type C FIBC?
What is a Type D FIBC?
Why is a Type D FIBC preferable to a Type C FIBC?
How are static hazards identified?
What are CENELEC and the IEC?
How are Type D FIBC tested?
What testing has been done on CROHMIQ?
Can CROHMIQ FIBC be reused?
How do you evaluate Type D FIBC?
Where are CROHMIQ FIBC purchased?
Myths and Misconceptions Explained
Myth: Some materials dissipate static electricity faster
than CROHMIQ.
Truth: Rate of dissipation is not a determinant of
the effectiveness of static protection. CROHMIQ fabric is designed
to dissipate static electricity in a controlled manner to avoid hazardous
discharges. The true measure of a Type D fabric is its ability to dissipate
electrostatic charge safely without being grounded and without igniting
flammable powders or solvents. For CROHMIQ this is not only proven
by extensive independent testing according to the latest and most rigorous
international standards, but also by the long history of safety provided
by CROHMIQ in industry’s most challenging environments. In 11
years since its invention, CROHMIQ fabric has been used in packaging
over 25 billion pounds of chemicals without any incident of fire or
explosion.
Myth: D+ or CD bags are better than CROHMIQ because they
can be used as Type C or Type D.
Truth: In order to dissipate static electricity
at a safe rate, Type C FIBC must have a resistance to ground
of less than 108 Ω. This has always been the performance
characteristic that defines Type C FIBC and it is written
into national and international standards. Plants that use
Type C often have interlock systems on their bag stations
that prevent the contents emptying unless a proper ground
connection is in place with a resistance less than 108 Ω. All D+ or CD products have a resistance
much higher than 108 Ω. They cannot be used on interlocked
systems and do not provide the safety of true Type C FIBC.
Manufacturers of D+ and CD bags specify that their bags
should be grounded to eliminate the risk of causing explosions.
If bags need to be grounded to be safe they are not true
Type D FIBC. Unlike CROHMIQ FIBC, D+ and CD bags do not
provide full safety when ungrounded and do not meet the
requirements for Type C when grounded. It is, therefore,
clear that D+ and CD bags are inferior to CROHMIQ FIBC and
true Type C FIBC. This is why international standards written
by leading safety experts do not recognize D+ or CD bags
as being safe.
Myth: CROHMIQ FIBC can induce hazardous potentials on nearby
ungrounded conductors.
Truth: Independent testing by the Swiss
Institute for Safety & Security and by Chilworth Technology
has proven that CROHMIQ FIBC do not induce hazardous potentials
on large isolated conductors placed only inches away. Ignition
testing conducted in TEXENE’s own state-of-the-art
facility and according to the general principles of IEC
61340-4-4:
2005 has proven that incendiary discharges do not occur
from isolated 55-gallon steel drums or from isolated persons
positioned within inches of CROHMIQ FIBC during filling
and emptying operations. Unlike so called D+ bags, CROHMIQ
FIBC achieve reduced induction without the need for a ground
connection.
Myth: It is a mistake to ground CROHMIQ FIBC.
Truth: CROHMIQ FIBC are designed and engineered to
be safe without the need for a ground connection. However, there is
no hazard if a ground connection is made to a CROHMIQ FIBC.
Myth: CROHMIQ fabric has a special antistatic coating and
will not function safely uncoated.
Truth: CROHMIQ fabric has a regular polypropylene/polyethylene
coating. The static protective properties of CROHMIQ are inherent
to the base fabric and both coated and uncoated fabric provides
equal static protection. Coated CROHMIQ fabric is used in applications
requiring the functional barrier that a coating provides. Uncoated
CROHMIQ fabric is used in applications that require a “breathable” FIBC
or where a liner is used inside the FIBC.
Myth: CROHMIQ is not FDA approved.
Truth: CROHMIQ fabrics comply with the US Food, Drug & Cosmetic
Acts, and the EU Material & Articles in Contact with
Food Regulations. Independent analysis of the component
materials used in the construction
of CROHMIQ fabric has concluded that:
- the extruded coating of CROHMIQ fabric provides a
functional food contact barrier against adulteration
from outside agents;
- under FDA regulations the component materials of the
CROHMIQ extruded coating and base fabric are either
GRAS (generally
recognized
as safe) or within the relevant specifications;
- under EU regulations, none of the component materials
used in the construction of CROHMIQ fabric (including
the extruded
coating)
is on the positive list – i.e. all component materials
in CROHMIQ fabric are permitted for food contact.
Myth: CROHMIQ fabric contains solid metal filaments.
Truth: CROMHIQ does not contain any metal
filaments. The special static dissipative yarns woven into
CROHMIQ fabric are mainly
polypropylene with a small percentage of carbon.
Myth: TEXENE recognizes other companies
using similar technology to CROHMIQ as being legitimate
competition.
Truth: TEXENE does not recognize the
legitimacy of any product that infringes upon TEXENE patents
and will vigorously
enforce its intellectual property rights against others who
violate its U.S. and foreign patents.
MYTH: If you own a patent, it gives you
the right to use make, use and sell the product or method
covered by your patent.
TRUTH: Not necessarily. Owning patent
does not necessarily allow an infringer to avoid violating
TEXENE’s patents. A patent only gives you the right to
exclude others. Whether you can practice the invention described
in
your own patent depends upon the existence of patents owned
by others. Example: Company A invents the “pencil” and obtains
a patent. Later, Company B decides to put an eraser on the
end of the pencil and obtains a patent on the combination.
But the pencil/eraser combination sold by Company B is still
a pencil and its manufacture and sale would violate the original
pencil patent owned by Company A.
Myth: CROHMIQ is only available in the USA.
Truth: CROHMIQ is available worldwide and
CROHMIQ FIBC are manufactured in every Continent where FIBC
manufacturers and ultimate end users
are located.
What is CROHMIQ® brand
fabric?
- CROHMIQ fabric is a patented, woven polypropylene static protective
Type D fabric used in the manufacture of ungrounded bulk bags or FIBC
(Flexible
Intermediate Bulk Container) for use in flammable gas, vapor and dust
atmospheres. FIBC constructed of CROHMIQ fabric provide static protection
by dissipating
the static charge buildup on the FIBC and by limiting the energy of
discharges to prevent an ignition of the flammable environment.
- CROHMIQ static protective FIBC are used by Fortune 500 companies and
others in a wide range of applications where flammable gas or vapor such
as ethylene,
toluene or methane or flammable dust such as corn starch, resins, and
fertilizers are present.
- CROHMIQ FIBC have an outstanding safety record with over 10
million FIBC used since 1995.
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Why is CROHMIQ unique?
- Special patented static dissipative yarns in the fabric dissipate
the static charge by corona discharge.
- The use of CROHMIQ static protective FIBC eliminates the need for
operators to ground the FIBC prior to filling or emptying. The
static dissipative
performance is provided by the fabric and does not require special FIBC
construction methods. The static dissipative property does not deteriorate
over the life of the FIBC and
maintains its protective properties through multiple refurbishment cycles.
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What is a Type C FIBC?
- Type C FIBC use a conductive surface or network to conduct the static
charge from the surface of the FIBC to a ground. These FIBC provide
safe and effective
static protection only if they are well constructed and properly grounded.
All conductive elements within the Type C FIBC must be interconnected
to the grounding tab which in turn must be grounded during filling
and emptying of
the FIBC.
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What is a Type D FIBC?
- Type D FIBC do not require grounding to provide
safe, effective protection from hazardous static discharges.
The fabric has antistatic properties
that dissipate the static charges safely to prevent small
sparks and potentially explosive discharges. CROHMIQ's
design engineers invented Type D technology and was
awarded its first patent
in 1995. CENELEC created
the Type D FIBC classification
after the introduction of the revolutionary
CROHMIQ technology.
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Why is a Type D FIBC preferable to a Type C FIBC?
- According to industry experts, a leading cause of industrial accidents
involving FIBC is a Type C FIBC with a broken or missing ground connection
(see Britton’s
article). Isolated Type C FIBC is extremely dangerous because they
can produce energetic sparks that can easily ignite flammable gas
and vapor and
most flammable dust atmospheres. The proper grounding
of Type C FIBC is prone to human error. FIBC made of CROHMIQ static
protective Type
D FIBC fabric have no special construction requirements and do not require
grounding.
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How are static hazards identified?
-
The potential static hazards at the locations where FIBC are filled
and emptied are dependent on the type and form of the product conveyed,
the material handling system during filling or emptying, the flammable
environment, and the safety procedures in use. Just as FIBC have a
5:1 or 6:1 safe working
load, the FIBC should have a level of safety on static protection.
An evaluation of the materials used, machinery, and processes is required
to determine
the static discharge hazard.
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What are CENELEC and the IEC?
- CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization,
was created in 1973 and is a non-profit technical organization composed
of the
National Electrotechnical Committees of 23 European countries.
- The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) was founded in
1906 in St. Louis, Missouri, and is presently comprised of 40 countries
including
the U.S.A. Its stated purpose is to establish standards for a wide variety
of electrical products to encourage international trade.
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How are Type D FIBC tested?
- Charging rate (current), Minimum Ignition Energy
(MIE) of the flammable material, and relative humidity
are the critical test parameters
to
establish performance.
- The test method
closely simulates industrial handling
of powders using a test apparatus that fills
and empties a FIBC with polypropylene pellets
under controlled environmental conditions. A flammable
gas probe is used to measure
the ignition
hazard of the static discharges from the
FIBC using gas mixtures of defined MIE. This method
is incorporated in IEC 61340-4-4.
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What testing has been done on CROHMIQ?
-
CROHMIQ FIBC have been successfully tested using both
methods since 1995 by leading test laboratories, customers,
and even competitors
under
a wide variety of test conditions.
TEXENE
maintains a state of the art testing facility as part
of its ongoing commitment to safety, research, and new
product development.
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Can CROHMIQ FIBC be reused?
-
CROHMIQ static protective FIBC have been refurbished with wet and dry
cleaning processes and reused by customers. A properly designed program
for refurbishment including safety testing may allow multiple reuses of
a CROHMIQ FIBC.
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How do you evaluate Type D FIBC?
-
When purchasing Type D FIBC for your application, it is important
to understand the nature of the static hazard and the level of safety
required to protect
your employees and customers. The FIBC is just one element of an electrostatically
safe and effective material handling system. Look carefully at the
test method, the MIE, and the charging rates used, to determine
safe performance level.
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Where are CROHMIQ FIBC purchased?
- TEXENE is proud to offer CROHMIQ fabric to
a global network of FIBC Suppliers. These leading
FIBC
manufacturers
will
design,
produce, and
deliver FIBC made of CROHMIQ static protective Type
D FIBC fabric to your specifications anywhere in
the world.
CROHMIQ fabric is
available in two
colors, CROHMIQ blue™ and CROHMIQ white™.
Contact our Sales & Service staff
for more information or to locate.
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