Testing the suitability of FIBCs for use in flammable atmospheres

Flexible intermediate bulk containers are used in several industries, including the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries, for convenient handling of bulk solids and powders. While the electrostatic hazard posed by FIBCs is well known, little full-scale experimental work has performed to quantify this hazard. In this paper, experimental work conducted to evaluate the suitability of a new type of FIBC for use in common industrial flammable atmospheres is described. As a part of this work, two other FIBC types were evaluated for comparative purposes. Testing included determination of electrostatic discharge incendivity and measurement of charge transfer, surface potential, and charge density. The primary outcome of this work has been to establish the viability of a new type of FIBC for use in flammable atmospheres without the need for electrical grounding. However, consequent outcomes include a move towards a quantification of the electrostatic hazard posed by FIBC use and a better understanding of the mechanism characteristic of discharges from charged FIBC surfaces.