Repairing a large hole in a poly tank – it can be done!

All repair systems for repairing damaged poly tanks are epoxy based. Epoxies are not effective in repairing a large hole in a poly tank. With a large holes there is not enough surface for the epoxy to grab on to. An XT Tech-Patch will PERMANENTLY repair a large hole in a poly tank.

Steps for repairing a large hole in a poly tank.

1. Abrade the tank surface surrounding the hole to below the sheen. You will want the patch to extend a minimum of one inch beyond the edges of the hole all the way around.
2. Clean the surface with any cleaner that will not leave a residue.
3. Saturate the surface with our Poly Prep. Let dry.
4. Spray a light mist of our catalyst, the Activator/Accelerator, on the tank surface. Let dry
5. Warm the tank surface with a heat gun or hair dryer. Warm to about 120 degrees F, or, by touch, just below hot. If the surface is too hot, you will fry our SI adhesive.
6. Apply the SI Black to the abraded side of the entire patch except for diagonal corners, using small concentric circles. (SI Black is clear and dries clear. Black refers to the adhesive being thicker than most adhesives. That thickness will provide the control needed.)
7. Grab the diagonal corners, apply tension and press the patch on. Press down the edges with your fingers.
8. Use the glue squeegee to apply firm pressure for 15-29 seconds from the edges of the hole outward.
9. If the patch is not hot from the chemical reaction initiated by the catalyst, use your heat gun or hair dryer to raise the temperature. When the patch gets “hot”, stop heating the patch. This exothermic reaction will continue for ten to fifteen minutes.
10. Visually inspect the patch and correct any problem.

“Plussing” the XT Tech-Patch

This was one area where there was a learning curve. One of our clients had a large hole at the bottom of large poly tank. They put on the patch and, of course, the patch held, but … . Patches are flexible. They also elongate. As more and more water was added to tank, the fluorosilicone ballooned out. Eventually the patch ruptured. Once the problem arose, we knew the solution.

SI adhesives are often used as a coating. These coatings are harder than some metals. When out client “plussed” the patch, the elongation ceased to occur. “Plussing” also serves as a protection against abrasion and increases the protection against weather and a host of other happenings.

Click on the button below to purchase an XT Tech-Patch.

Video for PERMANENTLY repairing a large hole in a poly tank.

What are Tech-Patches made of?

Tech-Patches are made from a flexible polymer, fluorosilicone (FVMQ). Fluorosilicone has “excellent resistance” to regular gasoline, water, weather and most common chemicals and is the polymer of choice for high stress environments in the automotive, aerospace and aviation industries. Being used as a patch on a poly tank is not usually considered a high stress environment.

XT Tech-Patch covering a 3′ hole.

In the picture to the left, an XT Tech-Patch that has been “plussed” is covering a 3 inch hole. Plussing the patch adds the rigidity needed after the Tech-Patch has been bonded on. With our patented Polymer Bonding Process (Process) , patches are not glued on, they are bonded on. Bonds are far more durable than glue joins.

But you can’t glue a polymer … or can you?

There are some adhesives that can glue polymers … somewhat. However, by using both chemistry and physics you can bond, bond, not glue, any poly to itself, to any other polymer and/or to almost any other substrate. It was in 2016 that we first put everything together for the first execution of our now patented Polymer Bonding Process (Process). We bonded polyurethane to polyurethane.

With twenty plus years in the adhesive industry, we understand your skepticism. We shared that skepticism for the first two years as we tested every polymer, every combination of polymers and every combination of polymer to other substrates that we could find. In the years sense, scientists, engineers, technicians and every day people from around the world have have tested and proven the Process. Testing occurred in labs, in businesses, in shops and in homes.

What we found out is that the Process always works. Chemistry and Physics are hard sciences which will produce the same result every time. Equally important, there has never been a reported failure of a bond created by the Process. As of now the Process has been proven. Proven accross an array of industries.