Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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A. General Information

How do I know if my product can be packaged in Baritainers®?

BPI strongly recommends that before a particular product is packaged in Baritainers®, compatibility testing be performed.  The compatibility testing protocol can be found here.  BPI will provide a reasonable number of Baritainer® samples for chemical compatibility testing, provided the requestor pays for shipping.  Here is a list of chemicals that have been tested with Kortrax® (Pat-Pending).

B. Technical Information

1. What type of Baritainers® does Barrier Plastics (BPI) sell?

Currently, we sell Drums, IBCs, Tight Heads, F-style Bottles, and Cylinder Round Bottles. Please check our products section for detailed information about our line of bottles and containers. Our product line is constantly being updated with newer products and information so please check back.

2. Is this new technology?

This technology has been in prior use in Europe for approximately the last 15 years with very positive results and wide acceptance. It is relatively new to the US and is just beginning to be looked at and adopted as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to steel and metal packaging as well fluorinated plastic.

Click Here To See ISO Certification for Manufacturing of Kortrax at the Polymer Tech Center
PCE and PTC 2020 ISO FM 90109 12122

3. What are the benefits of Baritainers®?

+ HDPE Base Material
+ Barrier Properties are Permanent
+ Economical and Cost-effective
+ Easier to Manage
+ Eco-friendly (no worries regarding fluorine)
+ Reduced Carbon Footprint
+ Expanding Product Line
+ Food grade compatible

4. Are Baritainers® Recyclable?

Yes, since Baritainers® are at least 93% base HDPE they are recyclable. Each Baritainer® has the following recycle code 2.

5. How do I know if my product can be packaged in Baritainers®?

BPI strongly recommends that before a particular product is packaged in Baritainers®, compatibility testing be performed. The compatibility testing protocol can be found here. DOWNLOADABLE PDF OF BARRIER PLASTICS TESTING PROTOCOL. BPI will provide a reasonable number of Baritainer® samples for chemical compatibility testing, provided the requestor pays for shipping. Here is a list of chemicals that have been tested with Kortrax® (Pat-Pending). See Chemical Test Data Sheet

6. Do you have a Quality Assurance Program (QA)?

Yes, we do, and to learn more about our program. Learn More

7. Where can I get samples of your products for compatibility testing?

You can contact us directly either by phone or email.

8. Where can I purchase your products?

You can contact any one of our distributors or representatives or you may contact us directly either by phone or email.  Contact Us.

9. Is Barrier Plastics open to custom projects?

Yes, Barrier Plastics will consider custom projects; please get in touch with us directly for further discussion. You may contact us directly or email us.

Technical Information

1. What packaging problems do Baritainers® address?

Baritainers® virtually eliminate or reduce a variety of problems normally associated with the chemical attack of polyolefins, including:

+ Chemical Permeation
+ Paneling and distortion
+ Product Weight Loss
+ Container Discoloration
+ Odor Emission
+ Flavor, Fragrance, and/or Active Ingredient Loss
+ Interaction of the Container with the Product

2. What percentage of Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) Barrier Resin should I use?

We have established our Baritainer® product line after years of testing with what we believe is the most cost-effective percentage of Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR. Thus, the containers available will cover at least 80% of the more common applications. That being said, it is possible to adjust the ratio of Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR/HDPE to handle the most challenging of products. Barrier Plastics always recommends product testing be done with the actual product and the exact container and closure system to determine the total package that will meet your requirements. BPI feels this container qualification process is so vital that will be willing to provide a reasonable number of samples for chemical compatibility testing purposes upon request.

3. Can you give me a more exact picture of how the Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR technology works?

The technology section gives a thorough explanation of how Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) works; however, in short, Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR is a nylon additive that is added to the HDPE masterbatch during the manufacturing process. During this proprietary manufacturing process, discontinuous platelets are formed within the HDPE matrix that acts as a ‘tortuous path’ to the long-chain molecules trying to migrate through the HDPE container wall into the atmosphere.

This barrier greatly reduces the permeation and scalping of a range of fuels, chemicals, solvents, flavors, and fragrances. Container softening and/or swelling can be reduced in many cases, and long-term paneling through the weight loss of product can often be brought down to an acceptable level or even eliminated. Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR effectively extends the application bounds of polyethylene containers and tankage. This allows inexpensive polyethylene to be used in applications with aggressive chemicals, such as with agricultural chemicals, solvents, institutional/industrial cleaning formulations, food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, where an untreated container would have marginal success in containing the product.

4. Can Baritainers® be manufactured in various colors and shapes?

Yes, they can. Remember that the base material of Baritainers® is HDPE, so they can be produced in a variety of colors, shapes, and gram weights. In addition, they can be silk screened and labeled.

5. What causes paneling? Does Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR prevent it in the Baritainers®?

Paneling is a direct result of a reduction in the volume of the contents of a container. The contents being either the liquid, the headspace gas, or both. The absorption of content into the container walls, which plasticizes the polymer (HDPE), may further aggravate the paneling problem.

Reduction in the volume of liquids is maybe due to either absorption or permeation or both. Plasticization is due to absorption. Reduction in the volume of headspace gasses is due to the absorption of the gas into the liquid or the removal of oxygen through oxidation of the contents.

Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR prevents paneling and plasticization resultant of permeation from occurring because of the HDPE/Nylon lamella micro-structure that occurs during the proprietary manufacturing process (technology). Paneling may still occur, however, if the liquid contents absorb the headspace gasses as described above. The barrier objective is to reduce the paneling resultant from permeation and consequent weight loss, thereby preserving the bottled product.

Learn More about Baritainer Paneling.

6. What are the numbers for permeation rates in Baritainers®?

Data does exist for weight loss of pure solvents in Baritainers®, and for many, there is a substantial reduction of product loss, but BPI does not advise utilizing this data for package engineering.

Most product formulations are a complex mixture of ingredients. Some ingredients may permeate; some others may not. A permeate may be important to efficacy or maybe an inert filler, extender or carrier.

Thus, it is unreliable to use permeation data for single solvents to predict the permeation of complex mixtures. The only valid approach is to perform tests with the actual formulation in each container application. Visit our testing protocol section to learn more about compatibility and qualifying Baritainers®.

7. Why is permeation testing so important?

It is important to perform permeation tests with your Baritainers® since several factors affect the barrier properties of any given package. Some of the factors that impact barrier performance include weight, closures, wall thickness, the percentage of Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR, shape, and product formulation. A change in any one of these factors can affect the barrier level of the package. For this reason, BPI emphasizes the importance of permeation testing of Baritainers® that are identical to the ones that will be used for your production.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulations regarding the packaging and transporting of chemicals that permeate plastic. Please refer to Testing Protocol for the Code of Regulation of the Department of Transportation, Appendix B to Part 173 – Procedure For Testing Chemical Compatibility and Rate of Permeation in Plastic Packaging and Receptacles.

8. How is permeation testing performed?

The US Department of Transportation requirement for products transported over US highways is that chemicals and solvents lose less than 2% weight per year. This serves to protect warehouse and shipping personnel from excessive fume exposure and to protect the consumer from underweight packaging. Note that for some hazardous materials, the permissible weight loss is only 0.5% per year! Baritainers® are engineered and manufactured with Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR and our proprietary manufacturing process to meet these targets. Our customers worldwide have been able to maintain the use of impact-resistant HDPE packaging and avoid switching to less desirable glass or metal containers or to more expensive co-extruded or barrier-coated containers.

Please refer to Testing Protocol as defined in the Code of Regulation of the DOT Appendix B to Part 173 – Procedure For Testing Chemical Compatibility and Rate of Permeation in Plastic Packaging and Receptacles.

9. Are Baritainers® UN rated?

The Baritainer® drum, IBC, and jerry can product lines are UN certified and have met the very rigorous standards to be Y rated, equivalent to DOT Packaging Group II.

Closing instructions may be found here.     

10. Are Baritainers® FDA compliant?

Yes, they are. See our FDA-compliant letter. In addition, Kortrax® (Pat-Pending) BR is in conformity with EC regulations.