FORM-2 THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2006
PROVISIONAL
Specification
(See section 10 and rule 13)


AN IMPROVED CONDUCTIVE FIBC
FLEXITUFF INTERNATIONAL LTD.
an Indian Company
of C 41-50, Sec-3, SEZ, Pithampur, Dist.-Dhar,
Madhya Pradesh, India

THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION DESCRIBES THE INVENTION.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to containers.
Particularly, the present invention relates to flexible intermediate bulk
containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) are widely used to carry and
deliver industrial materials such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cement,
fertilizers salts, sugar and grains. The fabric from which such FIBCs are
generally constructed is a weave of one or more synthetic polymer materials,
for example, a polyolefin such as polypropylene. Such fabric may optionally be
coated with a similar polymer material on one or both sides. When coating is
applied, the fabric becomes non-porous, while fabric without such coating
usually remains porous.
Despite many advantages of FIBCs in storage and transport of industrial materials, it has been observed that very often static electrical charge accumulates in FIBCs. This accumulation is thought to take place as a result of the shifting and other movement and resulting friction between the contents and the walls of the container. For example, the generation of static charge has been observed on the walls and in the contents of FIBCs during the filling, unfilling, and movement of such containers. Furthermore, accumulation has also been observed to take place to a greater extent in environments of lower relative humidity. Discharges of accumulated static electrical charge may be dangerous if they are of sufficient energy to be incendiary that is, a discharge of sufficient energy may be able to initiate the ignition of combustible materials present in dusty atmospheres or flammable vapor atmospheres. Discharges of accumulated static charge may also be uncomfortable to workers handling such containers.
There have been several attempts by FIBCs manufacturers to overcome this problem. One of the solutions is use of conductive groundable bags which are made of standard polypropylene fabrics woven with addition of conductive
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threads in both weft and warp directions. The conductive threads are made of polypropylene, compounded with carbon black, silver and other metal coated multifilament threads. Electrostatic charge that accumulates on the surface of the bag is safely transmitted to the ground via conductive threads. Another idea has been to use a dissipative bag (Type D bag) such that electric charges will be discharged from the bag surface by corona discharge without the need of grounding. Another structure, in the relevant technical field, is attributed to FIBC made of antistatic treated and /or laminated fabric for homogeneously distributing the static electricity thereof. By this structure, the static electricity on the fabric is discharged by means of anti-static fibers to the atmosphere, so called as corona effect, of the FIBC.
Following patents/applications disclose antistatic flexible intermediate bulk containers: PCT application WO00/75406, US 6572942, US 6675838, US 7115311 and US patent applications 2003/0099796, 2004/0058604, 2004/0076791, 2008/0020161.
Furthermore, patents/ applications such as PCT application WO 2004/027113, WO 96/09235, US 4042737 and US 3823035 discloses metallization of polymeric materials with metals such as silver, nickel, copper, aluminum , platinum, palladium and tin by using know techniques like coating or plating.
Upon extensive survey and experimental testing, the inventors of the present application found out that apart from formation of static charges, another reason for the early wear and tear of FIBCs is corrosion of yarn metallized with copper, iron or alloy thereof resulting from long exposure to air, moisture etc. Furthermore, such long term exposure is also known to cause structural deficiencies in the material of the FIBC.
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OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide sturdy and durable flexible
intermediate bulk container.
It is another object of the present invention to provide flexible intermediate bulk container made from thermoplastic material.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide flexible intermediate bulk container made from antistatic material.
It is still further object of the present invention to provide a conductive flexible intermediate bulk container which is longer lasting and hence is cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a composition for manufacture of flexible intermediate bulk container that comprises a yarn which is integrally woven, enmeshed, fabricated, wafted, netted, molded or hatched with a thermoplastic carrier tape, wherein said thermoplastic carrier comprises a blend of a polymeric material, antistatic material, anticorrosive agents and additives.
Typically, the polymeric material is least one material selected from a group of materials consisting of polyolefin, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl, rayon and polyacrylates.
Typically, the antistatic material is at least one selected from a group of
antistatic materials consisting of organic amines, amides, quaternary
ammonium salts, esters of fatty acids, organic acids, polyethylene glycol esters,
polyoxyethylene derivatives, surfactants, polyhydridic alcohols, metals and
metal salts.
Preferably, organic amines are used as antistatic material.
Typically, the quantity of antistatic material is in the range of about 0.5 to 6%.
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Preferably, the quantity of antistatic material is in the range of about 1 to 2 %. Typically, the anticorrosive agent is at least one selected from a group consisting of zinc oxide, hydroxytalcite, tungstate and the like. Typically, the anticorrosive agent is used in the form of nano-sized material. Typically, the quantity of zinc oxide is in the range of about 0.01 to 3 %. Preferably, the quantity of zinc oxide is in the range of about 0.5 to 1. Typically, the quantity of hydroxytalcite is in the range of about 0.5 to 6 %. Preferably, the quantity of hydroxytalcite is in the range of about 1 to 2 %. Typically, the quantity of tungstate is in the range of about 0.5 to 10 %. Preferably, the quantity of tungstate is in the range of about 2 to 5 %.
Typically, the additive is selected from a group of additives consisting of color pigments, thickners, opacifiers and the like.
The invention also extends to flexible intermediate bulk container made from the composition in accordance with this invention as described herein above.
Another aspect of this invention is a process for preparation of the composition as described herein above.
Typically, in accordance with the process of this invention, the additives are incorporated in the composition by means of extrusion.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, carrier tape is wrapped helically around yarn.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the specific ingredients of the preferred composition, it will be appreciated that many additional ingredients can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred composition without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred composition of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly
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understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

->th
Dated this 9th Day of Jun 2008

MOHAN DEWAN OF R. K. DEWAN & CO. APPLICANT'S PATENT ATTORNEY

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