Tecniplas has supplied eight fiber reinforced plastic composite tanks at a plant run by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in Goiana (Brazil). The tanks measure from 8 to 14 m in diameter and integrate the water reuse system of the unit. According to Giocondo Rossi, director of Tecniplas, by opting for FRP composite tanks instead of those made of concrete, Fiat no longer needs to apply the rubber seal required to prevent water from attacking the steel reinforcement, which is a common event due to the porosity of concrete. ‘In addition to raising the tank cost, the rubber seal has a limited lifetime, from three to four years,’ he said. ‘Then, it requires heavy investments in maintenance or even the replacement of the tank. On the other hand, FRP composites are resistant to corrosion, which ensures a lifetime to the tank of more than 30 years.’ The on-site installation was also the responsibility of Tecniplas. Since the tanks' diameter exceeds 5 m, which is the limit for road transportation in Brazil, the tanks supplied to Fiat have gone through the oblate process, technology that allows the ring-shaped sections to be molded as an oval shape and then flattened at the ends, resembling the number eight shape.
This story is reprinted from material from Tecniplas, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
