Browse Publications Technical Papers 1999-01-3029
1999-12-01

Barrier Technologies Applied to Plastic Fuel Tanks: Comparison of Their Performance 1999-01-3029

Thanks to their low density, to their excellent processability and recyclability, and to their outstanding chemical resistance and specific mechanical strength, polymers are now the best materials to be applied in fuel tank systems. In that field, High Density Polyethylene (“HDPE”) is regarded as the best compromise between economical and technical requirements. But, basically, because of its chemical nature and structure, HDPE offers a poor barrier to hydrocarbons, especially light ones composing gasoline. Then, in order to meet to more and more demanding regulations on air quality and emissions, professionals from the Fuel Tank System area have developed several technologies in order to cope with that property of HDPE.
The aim of that article is to present the different technologies that have been industrially developed and to compare their performance in terms of barrier properties. A quick overview of the present and next to come regulations is also included; as the choice for a barrier technology always have to refer to a given regulation: what can be proposed in one region can be absolutely satisfying the local regulation, and could maybe not applied in an other region, either because of different regulations (consider the case of Europe and US) or because of local policies which have an effect on the fuel composition (situation of Brazil compared to Europe or to the US for instance).

SAE MOBILUS

Subscribers can view annotate, and download all of SAE's content. Learn More »

Access SAE MOBILUS »

Preview Document Add to Cart
Members save up to 17% off list price.
Login to see discount.
Special Offer: Download multiple Technical Papers each year? TechSelect is a cost-effective subscription option to select and download 12-100 full-text Technical Papers per year. Find more information here.
We also recommend:
TECHNICAL PAPER

Low Permeation Technologies For Plastic Fuel Tanks

2003-01-0790

View Details

TECHNICAL PAPER

Steel Battles Plastic for Fuel Tank Application: - Forming - Joining - Corrosion Resistance

2001-01-3082

View Details

TECHNICAL PAPER

Test Fuel Blending and Analysis for Phase II Follow-Up Programs: The Auto/Oil Air Quality Improvement Research Program

952506

View Details

X