GRP & Epoxy Fuel Tanks

Discussion in 'Materials' started by Zed, May 19, 2009.

  1. Zed
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: Australia

    Zed Senior Member

    Anyone know about fuel resistance for these materials, I have seen GRP diesel tanks but I can't recall seeing petrol tanks. Is epoxy better than polyester in this regard? Are either any good?
     
  2. Landlubber
    Joined: Jun 2007
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    There are serious issues with grp tanks, not the least is ethanol dissolves the resins. Forget it.
     
  3. Zed
    Joined: May 2009
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    Zed Senior Member

    Epoxy?

    Solution? Lining? Barrier Coat?
     
  4. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    gonzo Senior Member

    There are epoxies that are chemically resistant enough for ethanol. In some countries diesel fuel has ethanol added.
     
  5. Zed
    Joined: May 2009
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    Zed Senior Member

    Thanks Gonzo, I will ask local epoxy suppliers what they have. I think I can avoid ethanol for the moment but who knows how long that will be the case.
     
  6. GG
    Joined: Jan 2008
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    GG offshore artie

    I have just finished the gas tanks on a 32 Skater and the reason for this is because the ethanol was eating the inside of the epoxy tanks and in some cases would eat thru the lids causing them to leak and there is a process that Skater / Douglas Marine is using where i purchase my materials from to do the tanks and seems to work very well if done right . .:)
     
  7. mark775

    mark775 Guest

    I agree with Landlubber if it may ever see ethanol. For most tanks, otherwise, FRP (GRP) makes for the best, IMO.
    However, Devoe makes a product that works. I'm just a little leery of trusting a thin film between the ehanol and the plastic.
     
  8. GG
    Joined: Jan 2008
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    GG offshore artie

    Hey guys in a previous post i stated that i have just finished doing the gas tanks on a 32 Skater that are made out of Epoxy and here is a brief list of materials that are used after cutting out the baffles and lids , first the Fabric needed is 1708 ,3/4 oz mat or 1 1/2 oz and 10 oz cheese cloth , At prime part A & B ,Cobalt , Wax Additive , And the witiches brew from 10 to 15 gallons at $60 a gallon depending on if you decide to make your own baffles and lids and mind you this is a very $hity job redoing the tanks .:)
     
  9. mark775

    mark775 Guest

    I'm sorry. I don't get it. What Is the process that you and Skater finds that works?
     
  10. GG
    Joined: Jan 2008
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    GG offshore artie

    Sorry , i did not give you a step by step process , just the materials that were needed to do the job and no mention of the witches brew (resin) that is needed to do the job along with how many parts of at prime A and B that is needed to coat the tank or how many cc's of wax additive per gallon and how many CC's of Cobalt per 4 gallons and where and what fabric is used to re glass the tanks baffles and lids .:) all in all this works very well to repair Epoxy tanks and there is another system strickley desigined for fiberglass tank's that are made out of poly or vinyl that S2 YACHTS is now using .
     
  11. mark775

    mark775 Guest

    Jeez, why didn't you just say that you wanted to keep the vinylester-and-nothing-else-matters goo proprietary? I made an assumption that you wanted to help -sorry.
     
  12. GG
    Joined: Jan 2008
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    GG offshore artie

    Sorry but what more to you need to know Senior member , and with that in mind would you like me to write in length a step by step process of how to " and giving you the calibration of every step in this process and where and what fabrics should be used along with how many layers and where they should be placed and besides how much more do you need to know other then you are trying my patience and getting very cocky. :)
     
  13. GG
    Joined: Jan 2008
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    Location: MICH

    GG offshore artie

    VINYLESTER -whats that and do they still make the $HIT ? HA HA HA HA HA :)
     

  14. Zed
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: Australia

    Zed Senior Member

    Guys! Cripes, settle... Ok Ethanol is a *****, go to plan B --> stainless!
     
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