VERMICULITE SCHUNDLER

LAB PACKING
CUSHIONING 		PRODUCT GUIDE
The Schundler Company
10 Central Street
Nahant, MA 01908
732-287-2244 www.schundler.com


VERMICULITE SPEC 1-2, VERMICULITE SPEC 3,
AND VERMICULITE SPEC 4
For Lab Packing, Absorption, Cushioning

By Bruce Schundler

WHY VERMICULITE?

As packaging material vermiculite is particularly suited for use with corrosive and flammable chemicals such as bromine, sodium chlorate, ammonias, phenol in solid and liquid forms, etc, as well as for fragile articles such as glass and china.

Vermiculite is clean to handle, non-abrasive reflective, rot-proof odorless, moldable, non-irritant.

It is light, clean, and easily poured around irregular shaped objects; and it provides an excellent cushion against impact shock.

WATER HOLDING CAPACITY

Water holding capacity Exfoliated vermiculate will readily hold water within the interlaminar voids of particles It will also hold a certain amount of water between the individual particles A test was carried out in which vermiculate was held submerged in water in a nylon net for a period of ten minutes. It was then subjected to a centrifugal force of 90G for one minute, in order to remove the majority of the water held between the par-particles and thus to arrive at an indication of the water held within the vermiculite voids. The water retained as a percentage of the air dry weight was 240 percent. The bulk density of the sample was 6 lb/ft3 (or, 96 kg/m3.

In other testing, the relative absorbancy of different grades of vermiculite, perlite, attapulgite clay, and cellulose were compared. The results were as follows:

Typical Properties of Some Absorbent Materials

AbsorbentPercent By WeightPercent By Volume
WaterTolueneMixtureWaterTolueneMixture
Vermiculites.
Attic (Coarse)179222203213125
Medium220171220353236
Fine325242260454542
Super Fine325275298554845
Perlites.
Coarse (Super Coarse)178120117181412
Medium245182200302524
Concrete Grade383295340464041
Fine453381433554753
Attapulgtite Clay.
Typical Sample12092101474240
Cellulose.
Typical Sample108179062961

Notes:

  • A ratio of 9 parts water to 1 part toluene in an unemulsified mixture was used for these tests.
  • Because different test methods can result in different results, you should test whatever you are shipping or packing to determine how much material has to be used for sufficient absorbency and for compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Liquids being shipped to any U.S. government facility (military or civilian) with or in vermiculite, must comply with GSA CID A-A-52450 which covers expanded or exfoliated vermiculite intended to be used for the absorbent packaging of liquid hazardous materials (HAZMAT). Vermiculite used for this kind of lab packing must conform to ASTM C516, type I, grade 3 and must not be treated in any way with any additives or surfactants. The national stock number for this "HAZMAT" vermiculite is NSN 8135-01-324-2664.


VERMICULITE AS A DESICCANT

Immediately after exfoliation vermiculite is avid for water. This is because the original water sites vacated during exfoliation require to be reoccupied. For practical purposes poses, warm freshly exfoliated vermiculite can take up at least 5 percent moisture, based on its original exfoliated weight. Once it has reached moisture equilibrium it is no longer a powerful desiccant.

An advantage if this strong drying properly of freshly exfoliated vermiculite arises in the manufacture of premixes, particularly those containing hydraulic binders or components, which are sensitive to the presence of free moisture in the other components of the mix. The vermiculite will take up and hold such moisture. Another advantage of this temporary condition is that it provides the means of transferring water-soluble materials to the vermiculite without the necessity and cost of a subsequent drying operation. Water-based emulsions may also be applied.

If you think your application would benefit from the properties of perlite or vermiculite, please let us know by calling or contacting us at:


The Schundler Company

10 Central Street
Nahant, MA 01908
732-287-2244 or www.schundler.com
email: info@schundler.com

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