- 20 March 2007 -
Resin receives UL certification for use in fuel tanks
ARA ASHLAND’S AROPOL 7241T isophthalic polyester resin has been awarded certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for use in the production of fuel tanks. The company claims it is the first time a Brazilian company in the composites sector has received a UL guarantee.
The resin is employed in the manufacturing of composite jackets to enclose steel fuel tanks, and has already received international certifications for application in fuel tanks, because it is traditionally processed by Ashland’s clients in North America, Europe and Asia.
“However, the conditions of use for resin in Brazil are more rigorous because of the higher presence of alcohol in the composition of our gasoline,” explains Rodrigo de Oliveira, sales manager of Ara Ashland. “This is why we decided to subject AROPOL 7241T to the demands of rule NBR 13785 of ABNT-UL 1746.”
The composite produced by combining the resin with a fibreglass reinforcement fabricated by Owens Corning and Saint-Gobain Vetrotex has also obtained UL approval. The material has to withstand chemical erosion from potential fuel leakages as well as corrosion caused by the soil surrounding it.
To prepare for the UL tests, Brazilian manufacturers Confab and Sideraço produced two experimental tanks, from which samples were cut. The samples were then sent to PUC/RS University in Porte Alegre, Brazil, where the tests were performed. In one of the tests, the composite came into contact with corrosive chemicals such as toluene, methanol and ethanol, which are present in fuels.
Ara Ashland was formed in 1999 in a joint venture agreement between Brazilian company Ara Química and US-based Ashland.
Ara Ashland; www.araquimica.com.br
Owens Corning; www.owenscorning.com
Saint-Gobain Vetrotex; www.saint-gobainvetrotex.com
Reinforced Plastics © Copyright 2007, Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.