Frozen industrial chemicals are the black ice of manufacturing. Although undisturbed steel drums and IBC totes appear unfazed by plummeting temperatures, unprotected contents can skid streamlined manufacturing off the rails before leaving workers scrambling for replacements for unusable products. Industrial chemicals will freeze and expand if left exposed to colder environments. Expansion leads to container rupturing, leaks, and environmental contamination. Once useable, liquid precursor chemicals can congeal or separate into ruined components, further stymying production and exposing vulnerable employees to harmful contaminants. Although visibly undamaged chemicals might appear unblemished superficially, physical degradation from extreme temperatures can render molecular compounds insoluble and unfit for application. U.S. Hazmat Rentals’ climate-controlled chemical storage lockers can protect sensitive chemical stockpiles from rapid temperature inversions and extreme weather.
Understanding How Chemicals Freeze at Differing Temperatures
The freezing point of separate industrial chemicals substantially differs. Although common industrial substances like petroleum and ethanol don’t freeze above -100 degrees Fahrenheit, other hazardous materials, such as liquid nitrogen, have a low freezing point. The lower the freezing point, the quicker that hazardous substance will solidify. Each chemical has unique physical properties inherent from other classifications. There’s no universal storage solution for differing classifications of hazardous materials. While standard steel protection can safely protect most chemical stockpiles, inventory outliers necessitate universal protection for all dangerous substances. Chemical instability ranges on a duality spectrum. While plunging cold temperatures can solidify chemicals susceptible to subzero conditions, scorching summer heat causes increased reactivity, decomposition, and even explosions, such as flashover events. All material handlers should consult individualized material data sheets when determining proper chemical storage.
Proper Winterized Chemical Storage Protects More than the Bottom Line
Industrial chemicals should always be stored in a heated warehouse during colder months. Securing and tightening potentially loosed container lids can also prevent moisture from condensation inadvertently entering steel drums and totes. Inventory specialists and permitted employees should only use containers specially designed for cold environments. Onsite secondary containment can prevent accidental leaks from spreading into facility operations and the environment. Avoid storing incompatible materials together, regardless of the external environment, as incidental sparks or the toxic mixing of invisible fumes can silently penetrate compromised industrial settings. Our climate-controlled hazmat warehouses will protect unstable, volatile chemicals from extreme temperatures year-round. Standard bottom-affixed sump containment offers a first-line defense against environmental contamination for compromised steel containers. Contact us today for a free quote and consultation!
