I. Storage Requirements
1. Strict Moisture-Proof:
Store in a cool, dry indoor environment. Packaging must be tightly sealed (usually in woven bags with plastic inside). After opening, immediately re-tie the bag or transfer it to a sealed container and store it on a pallet, away from walls, to prevent moisture.
2. Prevent Contamination:
Store in a clean, dust-free warehouse, strictly isolated from volatile chemicals such as acids, alkalis, organic matter, and solvents to prevent contamination caused by the high surface area and the absorption of impurities.
3. Prevent pressure loss:
Packaging bags should be stacked appropriately to avoid excessive stacking that could cause the bottom packaging to break or the product to shatter. Handle the bags with care to prevent mechanical compression and friction that could produce excessive fines, which could affect particle size.
4. Stable temperature:
The warehouse temperature should be maintained stable, away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent condensation or changes in product properties caused by extreme temperature fluctuations.
II. Consequences of Improper Storage
1. Agglomeration and Loss of Flowability
After absorbing moisture, powder particles cling to each other, forming hard lumps. This leads to a sharp decrease in flowability, making accurate automatic metering and uniform feeding impossible, seriously interfering with subsequent production processes such as mixing and molding, and even causing production line interruptions.
2. Contamination and Reduced Activity
The high surface area of the powder attracts dust, oil, and other volatile chemicals in the air. These introduced impurities can contaminate the final product. These impurities can particularly degrade its activity when used as a catalyst carrier.
III. Pre-Use Inspection
Packaging Integrity: Inspect the packaging bag for intactness and seal damage to determine if moisture or contamination may have occurred during storage.
Clumping: Squeeze or sample the powder to observe for visible lumps. A small amount of soft lumps is normal (usually caused by static electricity), but large, hard lumps indicate significant moisture absorption and require evaluation of appropriate handling and use.
Foreign Matter and Contamination: Visually inspect the material for visible impurities, discolored particles, or other foreign matter to ensure cross-contamination.
Flowability: Take a sample to observe smooth flow. If the powder flows sluggishly or clumps, it indicates significant moisture absorption.
