Guide to Spill Containment Berm Materials and Chemical Resistance
Industrial spill containment berms are used to prevent the spread of hazardous chemicals and liquids, keeping the environment and workplace safe. These berms are made of different materials with specific chemical resistance and physical properties that make them suitable for different chemicals. Below is a detailed listing of common fabric materials and the chemicals they are suitable for, as well as their primary benefits:
Acids
Acidic chemicals are highly corrosive, requiring containment berm materials with excellent acid resistance.
Recommended Materials: XR-5®, Hypalon, VCP, Neoprene
Applicable Chemicals:
Sulfuric Acid (CAS No. 7664-93-9)
Hydrochloric Acid (CAS No. 7647-01-0)
Nitric Acid (CAS No. 7697-37-2)
Primary Advantages:
XR-5® (Elvaloy): Made from modified PVC, XR-5® exhibits exceptional resistance in 40%-98% sulfuric and hydrochloric acid environments. It offers high chemical stability and durability, making it suitable for strong acids.
Hypalon (CSM): Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSM) provides outstanding resistance to acids and bases (pH range 2-13) and can withstand more than 5,000 hours of accelerated aging tests, with a temperature tolerance of -40°C to 150°C (-40°F to 302°F), making it ideal for long-term use in acidic environments.
VCP (Vinyl-Coated Polyester): Suitable for low-concentration acids (<5%) and exhibits good mechanical strength and tear resistance.
Bases/Alkalies
Alkaline chemicals require materials with good alkali resistance for safe containment.
Recommended Materials: Geomembrane (HDPE/LDPE), Hypalon, XR-5®
Applicable Chemicals:
Sodium Hydroxide (CAS No. 1310-73-2)
Ammonium Hydroxide (CAS No. 1336-21-6)
Calcium Hydroxide (CAS No. 1305-62-0)
Primary Advantages:
Geomembrane (HDPE/LDPE): Excellent chemical stability in sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide solutions (concentration up to 40%), with weight change less than 1%.
Hypalon: Suitable for concentrated ammonia (up to 30%) and strong alkali solutions (pH value 12-14), providing stable physical properties.
XR-5®: Designed for mid-concentration alkali solutions (pH 8-12), offering 20% higher chemical resistance than standard PVC.
Organic Solvents
Organic solvents often exhibit high volatility (vapor pressure > 10 kPa) and low flash points (<60°C/140°F), necessitating materials with excellent solvent resistance (volume change rate < 2%) and impermeability (permeation rate < 1 g/m²·h).
Recommended Materials: Neoprene, Viton, Polyurethane, XR-5®
Applicable Chemicals:
Toluene (CAS No. 108-88-3)
Ethanol (CAS No. 64-17-5)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) (CAS No. 78-93-3)
Primary Advantages:
Neoprene: Shows good resistance to most low-molecular-weight solvents (molecular weight < 100 g/mol) such as ethanol and methanol.
Viton: Provides excellent resistance to strong corrosive organic solvents like benzene and toluene (corrosion level > 3), with a volume expansion rate <1% and a permeation rate <0.5 g/m²·h.
Polyurethane: High wear resistance, suitable for handling non-polar solvents like gasoline and diesel.
Petroleum Products
Containment berm of petroleum products requires materials that can withstand degradation from oil-based chemicals.
Recommended Materials: Geomembrane, Polyurethane, Neoprene
Applicable Chemicals:
Diesel (CAS No. 68334-30-5)
Gasoline (CAS No. 86290-81-5)
Hydraulic Fluid (CAS No. varies depending on composition)
Primary Advantages:
Geomembrane (HDPE/LDPE): Maintains physical properties when in prolonged contact with petroleum products.
Polyurethane: Demonstrates excellent oil resistance (volume change rate <2%) and mechanical strength, making it suitable for long-term oil containment.
Neoprene: Provides superior resistance to oil expansion and permeability, making it ideal for oil containment and sealing applications.
Other Liquids
Different liquids have unique chemical properties that require specific containment materials.
Recommended Materials: Polyurethane, Hypalon, Geomembrane
Applicable Chemicals:
Glycerol (CAS No. 56-81-5)
Ethylene Glycol (CAS No. 107-21-1)
Liquid Ammonia (CAS No. 7664-41-7)
Primary Advantages:
Polyurethane: Ideal for glycerol and ethylene glycol spills, offering excellent impermeability.
Hypalon: Remains stable in high-temperature (up to 150°C/302°F) and high-humidity (>90% RH) environments, suitable for liquid ammonia containment.
Geomembrane (HDPE): Offers high chemical resistance (>95%) to various industrial liquids.
Summary of Material Advantages
XR-5®: Best for strong acids (pH <2) and strong bases (pH >12), providing broad-spectrum chemical resistance.
Hypalon: Excellent acid and alkali resistance, suitable for long-term exposure in harsh environments.
Geomembrane (HDPE/LDPE): Cost-effective and ideal for handling non-polar chemical spills.
Neoprene and Viton: Strong resistance to organic solvents and oil-based chemicals, suitable for toxic and highly corrosive spill containment.
