Poly Tank Repair Industry

Since we’ve been told for over five decades that nothing sticks to slick plastics, to low energy polymers, or to Teflon (take your pick), we must emphasize that our patented Polymer Bonding Process (Process) and Tech-Patches used to repair a poly tank are proven technologies. Scientists, engineers, technicians from around the world have tested the Process and patches they have experienced a 100% success rate since 2016 and 2017 success rate. Of course, at times there were learning curvers. A complete record of the journey and where we are going from here can be found at the bottom of this page. Now, on to the Poly Tank Repair Industry.

Poly tanks are used in almost every major industry or marketplace; manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, dairy, etc. In these industsries, one of the primary uses for poly tanks is to hold potable water, a global resource that is becoming increasingly scarce. Municipalities. large and small, use poly tanks. Businesses use poly tanks, Families and individuals use poly tanks. Tech-Patches are the linchpins of the poly tank repair industry and will extend the working life of poly and, in fact, metal tanks by decades. Saving money is the financial reason for using Tech-Patches to repair poly and metal tanks, especially when the patches alwasy work.

Tech-Patches, whether it’s our G Series Tech-Patches, the XT Tech-Patches, or our PTFE Tech-Patches, always work.

Tech-Patches are made from fluorosilicone (FVMQ).

Fluoosilicone is a flexible polymer that has “excellent” resistance to water, oil, regular gas, weather, dirt, grease salt and most commong chemicials. Because of these characteristics, FVMQ is the polymer of choice for high stress environments in the aviation, automotive and aerospace industries.

The Process bonds Tech-Patches onto all common tank and pipe substrates. Bonds are far more durable than glue joins. Adding additional coats of adhesive to the outside of a patch increases the patch’s resistance to abrasion and accidental damage. Tech-Patches will usually last longer than the life of the tank.

Tanks are used for many things

Poly tanks hold more than just water.

Water is probably the most common substance held in poly tanks, In many countires, houses in rurual communities ouses have poly tanks that hold rain water, The rain water is used for washing and cooking. If drought conditions continue in the Western US, expect houses there to add poly tanks for the same purposes.

Above and below ground poly tanks hold oil and gas. Septic tanks are ofter made from either a poly or FRP. All types of grain are stores in poly tanks. Chemicals are stored in poly tanks. All larger RV’s have three different poly tanks. Poly tanks used for each of the mentioned purposes have all been repaired with the appropriate Tech-Patch.

As there are more patches to come, patches with higher psi ratings for use on pressurized containers and pipelines, the utility of Tech-Patches are going to substantially increase.

The Future

Rain water collection.

For many parts of the world, water has become a valuable commodity. The governor of California has already talked about new ways to store rain water to help minimize drought conditions. One of the ways for Californians to help that endeavor is to add rainwater collection to their homes.

In the picture to the right, you will see just such a collections system. Since when it does rain in drought areas, there is often a large volume of water, large tanks will be the norm. Patches will be available in different colors and Tech-Patches can be painted in order for them to blend into the surroundings.

Types of Tech-Patches

There are three types of Tech-Patches as follows.

G Series Tech-Patches

G Series patches, the most common of all the Tech-Patches, are designed to work on pipe and tank substrates that are not under pressure. Since neither surface of a G Series Patch is abraded, maximum protection against the elements and substances is provided. Click on the button below to purchase a G Series Tech-Patch.

XT Tech-Patch

XT Tech-Patches are abraded on one side and have a stress rating of 120 psi. Most Tech-Patches will need to be “plussed” because of the pressure on the tank. Patches can be plussed by adding coats of the adhesive on the ouside of the patch. The more coats, the greater the resistance to abrasion, elongation and miscellaneous damage. Plussed patches can alos be painterd. Click on the button below to purchase an XT Tech-Patch.

PTFE Tech-Patches

PTFE Tech-Patches are for the repair of plastic, and metal, gas tanks. PTFE is the chemical symbol for Teflon. Teflon has “excellent resistance” to both regular gas and diesel, but also has “excellent resistance” to high octane gasolines and high cetane diesels. If you ONLY ever use regular gasoline, you can use a G Series Tech-Patch. PTFE Tech-Patches are always recommended for vehicles powered by diesel fuels.

The Evolution and future of Tech-Patches

One of the first challenges we were presented with when we were introducing Tech-Patches to the world, was to develop a patch that could reliably repair damaged gas tanks. That request from an Alleghany County hazmat supervisor started the Tech-Patch story. Though a lot of polymers are resistant to gasoline, we needed to find a polymer that had “excellent resistance” to gasoline. Obviously, since rigid repairs are problematic when used to repair gas tanks, the polymer had to also be flexible limiting the field.

We tested all the flexible polymers. Fluorosilicone was the only candidate that met all of our specifications. At that point in June of 2017, we took Tech-Patches to market while also beginning the formalized testing. Not surprisingly in this initial period, we received orders from around the world. For almost two years, these Tech-Patches passed every test.

Finally issues started to arise. One of the issues, pressure rating, arose through internal testing. Specifically, patch failing when used on pressurized tanks, specifically metal tanks which are pressurized. Patches used on poly tanks under pressure did not always fail, but a patch used on pressurized metal tanks always failed. These patches were what we now call our G Series Tech-Patches, not abraded on either side.

Evolution step #1: XT Tech-Patches

Once the failures occurred, we started to abrade one side of the patch. We called these abraded patches, XT Tech-Patches. We the sent both G Series and XT patches to a certified lab. Testing was on the patches applied to stee pipe. With the results, G Series Tech-Patches came in with a 30 psi rating and the XT Tech-Patches rendered a rating of 120 psi. To date, both patches have lived up to their ratings.

The Future #!:

WE need to have patches that will withstand pressure well in excess of 120 psi. With some initial testing, we have found one combination where we awarded a 180 psi rating and this was on a patch that wasn’t “plussed”. In the stress testing that we conducted, we did not put extra layers on the outside layer of the patch. That is mportant because when failure occurred, it was usually the result of the patch tearing and not bond failure. We are anxious to do a new round of testing on plussed patches.

Evolution step # 2: PTFE Tech-Patches

The original Tech-Patch (G Series) worked very well as a repair system for damaged gas tanks (along with working on everything else) for a couple of years. Apparently everyone I sold a patch to used only regular gas. Actually, the first failure occurred in Australia. In communicating via email, we discovered that he used premium (high octane) gas. So, a new quest was started.

Research showed that only PTFE (Teflon) had excellent resistance to “aromatic” fuels. Aromatic fuels are high octane gasolines and high cetane diesels. There are Teflon tapes that are not plumbers tape. We tested the PTFE tape available in the US. Actually, the US versions we found were fiberglass tape, with a thin coating of Teflon on the tape. They worked, but not extremely well. So, we went to China.

Found an 18 mil PTFE tape in China that worked superbly well. As always with the Process There is an important point to know in understanding how our PTFE Tech-Patches work. PTFE, Teflon, is not an elastomer, so it is not flexible, but the PTFE tape is. Why it is flexible is that the PTFE tape is woven. What prevents gasolines and diesels from leaking through the weave?

Our SI adhesives also have “excellent resistance” to aromatic fuels. Our instructions call for the SI adhesive t be applied to the entire patch using small concentric circles. When appied to the poly or metal tank, the adhesive fills in the weave. Our catalyst, the Activator/Accelerator then initiates the required chemical reaction that bonds everything together. The next paragraph affirms our explanation of what happens.

John Deere has a tractor out there where the designof put the gas tank too close to the heat of the hydraulic system. A common occurrence is that the gas tank will melt in a specific area. Received a phone call from an owner of one of these tractor. He revealed that he was going to raise the gas tank and wanted toknow s where the plastic gas melted called me. This client was going to raise the gas tank and wanted to be sure that the patch would work. The answer to that question is always yes.

The client raised the tank and put on the PTFE patch. When he ran the tractor again, the heat was hot enough to melt the patch. What ended up happening is that the patch melted, but the PTFE tape was holding, but the gasoline was leaking through the patch. This is exactly what should happen. When the heat is sufficient to melt the patch, the heat will also melt the SI adhesive, opening up the weave, allowing the gas to link through. But the PTFE was still bonded to the tank. The client is going to install a heat barrier between the patch and the hydraulics box. That will solve the problem.

Evolution Step # 3 – Heat

Heat is a critical part of the Process. When a polymer, all polymers, are warmed to even a low level, the molecules of the polymer speed up and separate. This changes the molecular structure, allowing the Tech-Bond Molecular Bonding system to work. Our instrutions call for the heat to be appiied to po;lymer before the pieces are pressed together. We have learned that the heat can be applied after the two pieces are placed together. Heating before and then reheating is also an option.

Pressing the polymer pieces together when they are heated is critical to starting the chemical reaction that bonds the two surfaces together. That chemical reaction is an exothermic reaction that generates more heat. You will know that you were successful in bonding the surfaces when the join gets hot. Since the exothermic reaction continures for ten minutes or so, the heat generated will be maintained. When the heat is gone, the bond has reached operation strength for normal repairs/bonds. If the join will be used in a high stress environment, a 24-hour cure period is recommended.

Being able to apply heat after the pieces are joine opens new uses for the Process.

Evolution Step # 4 – MX Tech-Patches.

Back to the beginning. We have a patch that is quickly applied which has excellent resistance to gasoline. In 2017, we did develop a prototype patch that would stop an active, hazmat, gasoline leak. Apparently, these types of leaks are commonplace Will get it done … eventually.

Poly tank repair video.

Questions? Please call 877 565 7225.

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