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Four layer drum replaces three layers

In 2002 MAUSER introduced the first conductive plastics drum to the market. This
drum was a three-layer design with an outer conductive plastics layer. In 2004
MAUSER was inter alia granted the renowned packaging award Worldstar for this
new packaging concept. Now the global packaging pioneer has further advanced its
award winning concept.
The new four-layer system of the 4-EX comprises two isolating inner layers, a
conductive outer layer and another conductive layer between the two isolating inner
layers. The four-layer concept allows the manufacturer to select the appropriate
wallthickness portions of individual layers to ensure optimum drum stability and
performance. This provides a number of performance and economic benefits to the
user.
The thickness of the two conductive layers can thus be reduced by 20 – 30 %, which
requires less conductive PE material and results in up to 1 kg less drum weight. The
thickness of the inner layer made of virgin PE material which is in direct contact with
the filling good can also be reduced. The closeness of the filling good to the
conductive layer improves the protection from electrostatic charging and thus
increases safety. The isolating inner layer is maintained at the ≤ 2 mm thickness
required for EX certification. To ensure charge transfer, a contact strip in the drum
body connects the conductive layers. Electrostatic charging of the drum’s inner wall
can thus be prevented. All charges are discharged through the grounded conductive
outer layer of the drum.
Integrated grounding
Optionally, a second contact strip in the inner PE layer further ensures the grounding
of the filling good. The two strips are spaced at 180° so as to ensure maximum
charge dissipation. Compared with contact strips only in the bung area, which would
intersect the wall at one spot on the drum body, the L-Ring drum 4-EX provides
significantly improved static charge dissipation. The superior design of the L-Ring
also provides mechanical strength with excellent cold drop performance.
The drum is also available without the inner contact strip for customers requiring
increased purity of the inner wall and who thus have to avoid contact of the filling
good with the carbon-filled plastics material. Grounding is then done during filling via
a grounded dip tube system or other approved system.
Depending on the demand, a selective use of current high-priced conductive plastics
material based on nanotubes can be implemented near the inner contact strip with
the 4-EX concept.
The drum is already CENELEC certified for IIB products (DEKRA) and can thus be
used both for IIA and IIB products. Full UN approval should be obtained by the third
quarter 2008.