You may have heard the term vermiculite, but were you aware of its numerous uses and benefits? This common mineral has been used for years, in many industries, including construction, industrial, horticulture, and agriculture. In the commercial shipping industry, vermiculite is used as a packing material due to its light weight and absorbent proprieties. It is very versatile and offers many benefits to those looking to ship liquid, hazardous materials, and odd-shaped items.
What Is Vermiculite?
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral. A hydrated magnesium aluminum silicate mineral, to be exact, that expands when heated. It usually takes the form of shiny flakes, which are golden brown to blackish in color. It is mined in various parts of the world, including the USA, and has excellent proprieties that make it useful for a variety of industries.
Vermiculite, when subjected to heat, exfoliates to form elongated concertina-like particles which are lightweight, incombustible, compressible, highly absorbent, and non-reactive. These unique and versatile characteristics make vermiculite extremely useful and beneficial in industrial and commercial applications, including packaging, fire protection, refractory and high-temperature insulation, loose fill insulation, and more. Exfoliated vermiculite is mainly used in construction, shipping, industrial, horticulture, and agriculture industries.
Vermiculite in Commercial Shipping
As vermiculite is lightweight, compressible, and absorbent, it works as an excellent packaging material. It is widely used as a hazmat packing, as it acts as a completely inert absorbent and cushioning material. Vermiculite is also useful for shipping odd-shaped items or items that contain liquid. It is extremely absorbent and provides extra insurance for potential leakage and can help absorb shock during transport. There is a variety of vermiculite products on the market, but they can be categorized into two main sections.
Grade 4A Vermiculite
Vermiculite is graded by the quality and granule size. Extra coarse non-dusty Grade 4A vermiculite is the best grade vermiculite you can buy on the market. Sold in a variety of different sized bags, Grade 4A Vermiculite is an essential part of the “Variation Packing.” It also complies with International Air Transport Association hazardous material requirements.
Grade 3A or 3C Vermiculite
Grade 3A or 3C vermiculite has a smaller granule size and is a cheaper alternative to Grade 4A vermiculite. Grade 3A vermiculite is the second largest grain grade you can find in the vermiculite market. It has the same proprieties as Grade 4A vermiculite but is not as coarse. It still acts as an absorbent and cushioning material and is an essential part of the “Variation Packing” for hazardous material/dangerous goods shipping.
Vermiculite Safety
Vermiculite is safe to use. It is mined and used today under the strict protocols followed by the industry. In the commercial shipping industry, it is a U.N.-approved packing material for some hazardous liquids. Great care is taken when mining this mineral as to reduce the impact on the environment, as well as restoring the mined land back to its original and natural state once the project is complete. Vermiculite can be found in parts of South America, Africa, the United Stated as well as Australia and Russia
The vermiculite products sold through Air Sea Containers are labeled as “asbestos-free.” In the early 1990s, there was one specific vermiculite deposit where naturally occurring asbestos minerals developed alongside the vermiculite minerals. That mine, located in Libby, Montana was closed in 1990. With the exception of this one occurrence for a single mine, vermiculite products and uses have a successful history, and there is no evidence that any acute or chronic toxicity or carcinogenicity exists from long-term exposure to vermiculite.
Bottom Line
Vermiculite is a safe and excellent product to use for shipping. It is lightweight, extremely absorbent, and very versatile. It is an essential part of “Variation Packing” for hazardous material/dangerous goods shipping combined with 4GV packaging and is a U.N.-approved packing material for some hazardous liquids.
