ISO 20299-3:2008

Film for wrapping rubber bales - Part 3: Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), acrylic-ethylene rubber (AEM) and acrylic rubber (ACM)

ISO 20299-3:2008 specifies the material and physical property requirements for non-strippable film for wrapping general purpose synthetic rubber bales and intended to keep the bales separate during storage. It concerns wrapping film for the following types of rubber: ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM); acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR); hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR); acrylic-ethylene rubber (AEM); acrylic rubber (ACM). Certain applications and processing methods require the removal of the film. This part of ISO 20299 does not deal with strippable films.

Emballage des balles en caoutchouc — Partie 3: Caoutchouc éthylène-propylène-diène (EPDM), caoutchouc butadiène-acrylonitrile (NBR), caoutchouc butadiène-nitrile hydrogéné (HNBR), caoutchouc éthylène acrylique (AEM) et caoutchouc acrylique (ACM)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Feb-2008
• ICS: 83.040.01 - Raw materials for rubber and plastics in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 45/SC 3 - Raw materials (including latex) for use in the rubber industry
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 45/SC 3 - Raw materials (including latex) for use in the rubber industry
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 14-Jun-2021
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 20299-3:2008 is an international standard developed by ISO that specifies the material and physical property requirements for non-strippable film used in wrapping synthetic rubber bales. This part of the ISO 20299 series targets general-purpose synthetic rubbers including:

• Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)
• Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR)
• Hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR)
• Acrylic-ethylene rubber (AEM)
• Acrylic rubber (ACM)

The film plays a critical role in maintaining separation between rubber bales during storage, preventing adhesion caused by heat and pressure, and ensuring ease of handling. Unlike strippable films, the films covered here are designed to disperse during rubber mixing processes, eliminating the need for manual film removal.

Key Topics

• Material Composition: The wrapping films are typically manufactured from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), LDPE blended with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAC), pure EVAC copolymers, or specific ethylene copolymers with controlled monomer content.

• Physical Properties:

  • Thickness ranges between 0.040 mm and 0.070 mm for most materials, with allowance for thinner films (0.025 mm to 0.040 mm) to aid dispersion during mixing.
  • Thermal properties are critical; the film must possess a Vicat softening temperature of ≤ 95 °C or a melting point below 113 °C as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). This ensures the film melts and disperses effectively during the internal mixing cycles at 120 °C to 160 °C.

• Performance Requirements:
  The film must withstand mechanical stresses during wrapping and storage without tearing or adhering to other bales. Failures can lead to rubber-to-rubber adhesion, complicating bale separation and processing.

• Testing and Reporting:
  The standard mandates specific testing methods for thickness (ISO 4591), Vicat softening temperature (ISO 306), and melting temperature (ISO 11357-3). Test reports must include identification details, test results, and observations to ensure compliance.

Applications

ISO 20299-3:2008 film specifications are essential in industries that manufacture, store, and process crumb rubber bales for synthetic rubbers such as EPDM, NBR, HNBR, AEM, and ACM. Key applications include:

• Rubber Manufacturing: Protecting bales of synthetic rubber crumbs during production stages, avoiding cross-contamination and product degradation.

• Storage and Transport: Ensuring bales remain separate, stable, and easy to handle in warehouses and transit.

• Rubber Processing: Facilitating easy dispersion of wrapping film during mixing in compounding and molding operations without the need for manual film removal, helping maintain production efficiency.

• Quality Control: Compliance with ISO 20299-3 helps manufacturers meet quality and regulatory standards, minimizing product losses caused by tangled or fused rubber bales.

Related Standards

ISO 20299-3 is part of the broader ISO 20299 series focusing on the wrapping films for various types of rubber bales:

• ISO 20299-1: Film for wrapping butadiene rubber (BR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) bales
• ISO 20299-2: Film for wrapping natural rubber bales

Additionally, referenced standards provide detailed testing protocols essential to ISO 20299-3:

• ISO 306:2004 – Determination of Vicat softening temperature of thermoplastics
• ISO 4591 – Gravimetric thickness measurement for plastic films
• ISO 11357-3 – Differential scanning calorimetry for melting temperature determination
• ISO 1872-1:1993 – Designation and specifications for polyethylene materials

Conclusion

ISO 20299-3:2008 ensures that synthetic rubber bale wrapping films meet stringent material and physical criteria to maintain bale integrity, prevent adhesion, and enable dispersal during rubber processing. Adoption of this standard supports reliable handling, storage, and efficient manufacturing workflows in the synthetic rubber industry.

Keywords: ISO 20299-3, synthetic rubber bale wrapping film, EPDM film, NBR film, HNBR film, acrylic rubber film, rubber bale storage, non-strippable film, rubber processing film, polyethylene film, Vicat softening temperature, rubber film dispersion.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 20299-3
First edition
2008-03-01
Film for wrapping rubber bales —
Part 3:
Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM),
acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR),
hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber
(HNBR), acrylic-ethylene rubber (AEM)
and acrylic rubber (ACM)
Emballage des balles en caoutchouc —
Partie 3: Caoutchouc éthylène-propylène-diène (EPDM), caoutchouc
butadiène-acrylonitrile (NBR), caoutchouc butadiène-nitrile hydrogéné
(HNBR), caoutchouc éthylène acrylique (AEM) et caoutchouc acrylique
(ACM)
Reference number
©
ISO 2008
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©
ii ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 20299-3 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 45, Rubber and rubber products, Subcommittee
SC 3, Raw materials (including latex) for use in the rubber industry.
ISO 20299 consists of the following parts, under the general title Film for wrapping rubber bales:
— Part 1: Butadiene rubber (BR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)
— Part 2: Natural rubber
— Part3:Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated
nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), acrylic-ethylene rubber (AEM) and acrylic rubber (ACM)
©
ISO 2008 – All rights reserved iii

Introduction
Considerable quantities of synthetic rubber are prepared in crumb form. The crumbs are dried and then pressed
◦
into bales whilst still warm, at approximately 60 C. The bales are then wrapped in a film and packed, often
automatically, into crates.
The wrapping film should be strong enough to withstand the stresses encountered during the wrapping and
packing operations. It should not adhere to the film on the other bales under the combined effects of the heat
from the rubber and the weight of the bales. During storage, the rubber will flow and the film should be able to
withstand the stresses generated. Any failure of the film causes rubber-to-rubber adhesion, which in a 30-bale
crate leads to a “one-tonne bale”.
The prime purpose of the film is to keep the bales separate at all times, so that they may be easily removed from
their pack
...