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From the GMA Techline
Subject: Lining task Please find attached some recent pictures of an aluminum storage tank in one of our ongoing projects. Initially, we proposed to line the tank with a 2mm-thick HDPE sheet based on its chemical resistance. The tank is already fabricated with carbon steel by our client who failed to inform us about the top cover. A small opening (24-in. diameter) is available for us to perform the lining task.
Kindly recommend the best industry practice that we can adopt at this point to remedy the problem along with the technical viability of using the HDPE sheet.
(Mustafa, Saudi Arabia)
Reply: Assuming that the largest opening is shown [in your photos], this is going to be an extremely difficult job to accomplish with 2mm-thick HDPE liner. The liner will have to be fed into the opening in strips and then extrusion welded in place within the tank. There are even some penetrations shown in some of the photos. You should contact some installers to find out what they think in this regard.
As such, I would consider a spray-on liner, such as a urethane, which is easily installed (without seams) but probably has lower chemical resistance. Again, you will have to contact some suppliers.
Good luck on this difficult project!