ISO 20299-1:2015

Overview

ISO 20299-1:2015 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies the material and physical property requirements for non-strippable films used in wrapping synthetic rubber bales. This first part of ISO 20299 focuses specifically on films for butadiene rubber (BR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) bales. The primary purpose of this packaging film is to maintain bale separation during storage and handling, preventing rubber-to-rubber adhesion that can cause handling difficulties and quality issues.

The standard outlines critical parameters such as film composition, thickness, and thermal characteristics, ensuring the wrapping film withstands operational stresses while dispersing efficiently during rubber mixing processes.

Key Topics

• Scope and Material Requirements
  The wrapping film must be non-strippable and designed to keep BR and SBR rubber bales separate throughout storage. It is manufactured from materials including:

  • Low-density polyethylene (PE-LD)
  • Low-density polyethylene blended with ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAC)
  • Specific grades of EVAC copolymers
    Additives such as antioxidants, slip agents, and anti-blocking agents may be incorporated to enhance film properties.

• Physical Property Specifications

  • Thickness: The film thickness is controlled between 0.035 mm and 0.065 mm, measured via ISO 4591 gravimetric techniques.
  • Thermal Properties: The film’s thermal behavior is crucial for integration during rubber processing. It must meet one of these conditions:
    • Vicat softening temperature not exceeding 95 °C (ISO 306:2013 method A50)
    • Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) peak melting point below 113 °C (ISO 11357-3)
      These parameters ensure the film can disperse adequately during mixing cycles typically ranging from 120 °C to 160 °C.

• Testing and Reporting
  The standard requires comprehensive test reports detailing sample identification, testing dates, any anomalies observed, and measured physical and thermal properties following the specified test methods.

Applications

ISO 20299-1:2015 is essential for manufacturers, packagers, and quality control professionals involved in the synthetic rubber industry, especially those dealing with BR and SBR rubber types. The standard ensures:

• Efficient Bale Handling: Films prevent bales from adhering to each other, facilitating easy separation and transport.
• Optimized Mixing Processes: By dispersing in the rubber compound during mixing, the film avoids the need for manual stripping, saving time and cost.
• Storage Quality Assurance: The films withstand heat and pressure over time, avoiding "one-tonne bale" issues caused by film failure.

This standard supports automating bale packaging operations and improves product consistency from storage to final rubber compounding.

Related Standards

ISO 20299-1 is part of a series on "Film for wrapping rubber bales," including:

• ISO 20299-2: Covers films used with natural rubber bales.
• ISO 20299-3: Addresses films for ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), acrylic-ethylene rubber (AEM), and acrylic rubber (ACM) bales.

Additionally referenced standards integral to testing and compliance include:

• ISO 306:2013 - Thermoplastic materials’ Vicat softening temperature determination.
• ISO 4591 - Gravimetric techniques for film thickness measurement.
• ISO 11357-3 - Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for thermal analysis.

Keywords: ISO 20299-1, rubber bale wrapping film, synthetic rubber packaging, butadiene rubber (BR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), non-strippable film, polyethylene (PE-LD), ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAC), film thickness, Vicat softening temperature, differential scanning calorimetry, rubber storage film, rubber processing film, rubber bale separation.