Use of Bulk Bags in High Temp

Using FIBC Bulk Bags With High-Temperature Products

Throughout various industries, flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) have to be filled with materials that reach various temperature levels throughout their packaging and transport. It is important to understand the way high-temperature products affect bulk bags and their liners, so you know what to expect and how to safely follow the proper procedure to use these products.

Bulk Bags and Liners for High Temperature

FIBCs are designed with plastic material and polypropylene fabric woven together in individual strands to keep sensitive materials inside. It forms a strong, flexible, lightweight sack that can handle heavy materials with ease. Heat exposure, however, can cause the molecules in the fabric to loosen, particularly with temperatures above 70 F. When the temperature rises, the molecules move even more, decreasing the tensile strength of the fabric and ultimately weakening the bag. This change makes it easier for the material to stretch, rip or break.

Depending on the product inside, bulk bags with certain uses will require linings to make sure sensitive chemicals and fine powders can’t leak out during transport. It’s important to keep in mind that polyethylene liner material will start softening when it reaches temperatures from 195 F to 210 F. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you avoid filling polyethylene-lined bulk bags with products at temperatures above 170 F.

Another option, polypropylene high-temp liners, can increase filling temperatures all the way to 295 F. If your bag needs a liner and your products reach high temperatures, you should consider this type of liner.

Effects of High Temperatures on Bulk Bags

Many bulk bags are made using polypropylene, a woven plastic fabric. Even when these bags are exposed to temperatures starting around 70 F, the fabric is affected. At this temperature, the molecules in the plastic fabric will move around and get looser. The higher the temperature goes, the more those molecules begin to move around.

When polypropylene bulk bags are exposed to high temperatures or repeatedly high temperatures, it will affect the quality of the bag. The moving molecules can lead to your bags stretching out too much and potentially reach their breaking point.

This effect reaches the most critical point at around 200 F. It is possible to use bulk bags at these temperatures, but it’s important to follow the below guidelines when doing so. Make sure every member of your crew that handles high-temperature materials at any point in the process is educated about how to best handle them. By doing so, projects will run much more smoothly and have a lower risk of accidents.

High-Temperature Filling Guidelines for FIBCs

Often, certain industries need to fill their FIBC with high-temperature materials to get products where they need to be and finish the job. In these situations, it’s important to understand proper safety guidelines to keep yourself, your workers and your materials safe from beginning to end.

• Support any bulk bag containing a product at 100 F or higher from the bottom at all times. Do not lift it using any means other than foundational support. Wait until the fabric’s surface temperature has dropped under 100 F before using loops or any other parts on the bag for lifting and maneuvering.

• If your company fills a bulk bag with a product that is over 200 F, it is crucial to test the bag after the heat exposure to make sure it still meets safety standards. You should altogether avoid filling an unlined bulk bag with materials at or above that temperature because they can significantly alter the bag’s tensile strength and safety.

• Be sure to think about the peak temperature, amount of exposure time and level of material stress on the bulk bag before you determine its future performance and test its safety.

Recommendations for Working With High-Temperature Materials

Sometimes, there’s no way to avoid working with materials that, at some point in the loading and transportation process, reach higher temperatures. When you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to follow the safety guidelines outlined above to safely handle these materials.

Here are a few more ways that will help you effectively load, transport and unload materials at higher temperatures:

• Specify bags for higher-temperature materials: If you consistently transport materials that reach higher temperatures, label a set of bulk bags that are used specifically for them. Higher-temperature materials will wear more on standard bulk bags. Why would you wear down your entire stock of bulk bags when you could specify some bags for just that purpose? Doing so could save your business money in the long run by avoiding replacing bulk bags.

• Always test bags: We’ve already mentioned this above, but it’s an important thing to remember — always test bags that have been exposed to high temperatures. If you don’t test your bags, it could lead to a break and compromise the material it was carrying. Instead of just paying to replace the one bag, you’re losing much more money. You have to pay to repackage the material, and you’ll also pay in extra time and labor it will take to get the project back on track.

• Replace bags immediately when necessary: Replacing a bag immediately after you notice an issue will save you in the long run. It will help prevent accidents that could cost you much more than replacing the one bag.

• Consider specialty high-temperature FIBCs: There are special bags available that are meant to carry high-temperature materials. Standard polyethylene bulk bags can get the job done, but a high-temp bag would be more reliable if you transport these types of materials often. If you are using standard bulk bags to transport high-temperature materials, it will wear on them much more and cause you to replace the bags more often. Specialty high-temp bags will help you save money in long run.

At Midwestern Bag & Supply, it is our No. 1 priority to make sure you get exactly the exceptional, high-quality bags and liners you need for the specific applications within your business, and that you stay safe using them. Complete a contact form online for more information about our heat-resistant bulk bags for high-temperature filling.