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Water tanks are used for many different reasons both domestically and commercially. Although not always, they are often made from polyethylene (PE) using a process involving rotational moulding to create the tank. This means that they can be made to a range of different shapes and sizes and fit for purpose in many different situations and circumstances.
More and more people are using PE tanks, for good reason, and this is mainly due to the ease, cost-effectiveness, and versatility.
The Manufacturing Process Behind Water Tanks
When a water tank is made using rotational moulding, an amount of polyethylene powder is added to the mould which is then heated up until it melts into the mould’s form. This enables standard size, weight, and shaped water tanks to be made quickly, easily, and cost-effectively.
Why Polyethylene?
Polyethylene is a polymer that is a strong and durable plastic suitable for use in the storage of drinking water. Most products manufactured from polyethylene usually come with a warranty of 10 years as it will not break down in the sun for at least this long.
PE is resistant to UV rays (when a UV stabiliser is added), high impact, temperature changes, and chemical agents, making it a safe material to use for the protection of its contents.
Polyethylene tanks are cost-effective to produce (and buy), can be built in a variety of different sizes and shapes, are lightweight compared to other tank materials, and some can hold drinking water.
Rotational Moulding Process
The rotational moulding process involves having a mould that sets the size and shape of the tank. The polyethylene powder is then added to the tank, where it is heated until it melts. The tank rotates allowing the liquid PE to cover the mould, building up several layers of the substance.
This process can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the size of the tank that is being made.
The next step is to allow the mould to cool with the plastic inside. This makes the PE harden into the shape of the mould. When it has hardened it can then be taken out of the mould, ready to go.
Appearance
A PE water tank will normally look like a conventional tank. They are often made to have corrugated sides which can add extra strength, which can be important, especially in larger tanks. They are also lightweight compared to other tanks and can be bought in a range of different colours.
Benefits
There are a number of reasons why PE water tanks are a popular choice. These include:
- They are lightweight compared to other water tank options
- They can safely hold drinking water if the correct PE has been used
- They can be bought in a variety of different sizes and shapes
- They can have ribs moulded in for extra strength
- They can be bought in a variety of different colours
- They are easy to install
- They are versatile
- They are resistant to UV rays, high impact, temperature changes, and chemical agents
