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• January 18, 2021

A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Industrial Plastic Tanks

Plastic storage tanks are widely used for transportation and storage. For instance, industrial plastic tanks are utilized by fertilization and irrigation units in the agricultural sector.

The petrochemical businesses also use these tanks for the storage and transportation of gas and oil.

These commercial tanks are also ideal for water treatment, beverage and food processing, washing of industrial components, recycling wastewater, electroplating, manufacturing, and many more.

Types of Industrial Plastic Tanks

The most frequently used materials for making plastic tanks are high-density polyethylene or HDPE, cross-linked polyethylene or XLPE, polypropylene or PP polyvinylidene fluoride or PVDF.

Fiberglass reinforced plastic or FRP, linear low-density polyethylene or LLDPE, medium-density polyethylene or MDPE, low-density polyethylene or LDPE, and polyvinyl chloride or PVC are also popular choices for fabricating industrial plastic tanks.

The areas of application and key characteristics of the four most popular plastic tanks are illustrated below in brief.

• High-Density Polyethylene-based Industrial Plastic Tanks

High-density polyethylene-based industrial plastic tanks are characterized by a strong, smooth finish. They offer good temperature resistance and sport a pristine-white color.

Some of the most common applications of these commercial plastic tanks are as follows.

• Water treatment
• Storing organic and inorganic acids
• Dispensing photo and laboratory chemicals
• Brine and plating materials storage
• Storage of caustics and metal finishing

HDPE-based industrial storage tanks cannot be used for storing the following types of substances.

• Aromatic hydrocarbons
• Strong oxidizing agents
• Liquefied petroleum gas
• Halogenated-aliphatic hydrocarbons
• Solvents

Cross-Linked Polyethylene-based Industrial Plastic Tanks

XLPE-based industrial plastic tanks are ideal for a wide variety of corrosives that cannot be stored in fiberglass tanks.

These commercial storage tanks have a natural or yellow color and are used for the following purposes.

• Chemical processing
• Sodium hypochlorite storage
• Wastewater and water treatment
• Storing chemicals for boiler treatment
• Storing corrosives, including hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids
• Storage of inorganic and organic compounds and chemicals

XLPE-based industrial storage tanks are not suitable for storing the following kinds of materials.

• Aromatic hydrocarbons
• Strong oxidizing agents
• Liquefied petroleum gas
• Halogenated-aliphatic hydrocarbons
• Solvents

Polypropylene-based Industrial Plastic Tanks

PP-based industrial plastic tanks are known for their sheer ability to handle numerous kinds of organic chemicals and have an off-white color.

These commercial storage tanks are used for the following tasks.

• Sanitary processes
• In pickling and plating lines
• As etch tanks to process silicon wafers

PP-based industrial storage tanks cannot be used for storing the following types of substances.

• Sub-zero temperatures
• Chlorinated or aromatic hydrocarbons
• Strong oxidizing agents

Polyvinylidene Fluoride-based Industrial Plastic Tanks

PVDF-based industrial plastic tanks have an off-white color and are widely used for being highly resistant to halogenated chemicals, strong oxidizing agents, and inorganic acids. Process fluids can be stored in them without any risk of contamination.

A few of the most usual usage of these commercial storage tanks are as follows.

• Recovery of precious metals
• Storing not potable, ultra-pure water
• As etch tanks to process silicon wafers
• Storage and processing of halogenated chemicals
• Storing sulfuric acid and bleach for processing paper and pulp

PVDF-based industrial storage tanks are not suitable for storing the following kinds of materials.

• Concentrated caustic soda and nascent chlorine gas
• Hot, concentrated caustics, esters, and ketones

At GSC Tanks, we help businesses select the most appropriate kind of industrial storage tanks as per their budget and requirements and offer complete product life cycle support, including installation and maintenance. Call us now and schedule a consultation with our qualified team of experts.

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