What is fiberglass?
Also known as GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) or FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic). It is a composite material, it is made up of a combination of:
A. A resinous system, which includes, in addition to the polyester resin, different elements such as hardeners, fillers, additives, and others on which the resistance of the material to chemical products and weathering depends, its thermal stability, electrical properties, transparency, quality and appearance of the finished surface.
B. A fiberglass reinforcement that comes in different forms and depending on the amount applied, the directional arrangement present in the compound, determines the resistance and mechanical conditions of the material.
How to wash a tank made of fiberglass?
The tanks supplied by PV Fibra Ltda., are made of polyester reinforced with fiberglass, especially for use in the food, beverage, chemical products (these require special specifications), and drinking water sectors.
THE LOCATION OF THESE TANKS MUST BE DONE ON FLAT SURFACES, FREE OF DIRT, STONES, STICKS, AND OTHER SHARP ELEMENTS THAT MAY BREAK THEM.
INSIDE WASH:
- The tanks used for the storage of drinking water and/or food liquids can be sanitized as often as required according to use if there is no damage or change of pipe, in which case they must be cleaned IMMEDIATELY.
- In places outside the city aqueduct, the quality of the water must be evaluated, to measure the frequency of washing.
- The procedure to follow in the first place is to completely empty the tank.
- Provide the operator with boots, gloves, safety equipment, brooms, cloth, mop, and/or plastic brushes, in order to take care of THE FINISH of the internal wall of the tank. (The utensils and implements to wash the tanks must be used exclusively for this, in order to avoid contamination of the liquid to be stored).
- Remove the sand and debris from the bottom, which normally comes from the supply pipe, using a plastic broom and plastic dustpan.
- Proceed to clean the bottom, using mops, buckets, rags, and/or clean plastic brushes dedicated exclusively to cleaning the tank.
- Remove the water from this cleaning.
- Use commercial detergent and/or soaps to finish the wash.
- Rinse.
- AVOID THE USE OF CHEMICALS, CAUSTICS, ABRASIVES, AND WIRE PADS FOR CLEANING, WHICH MAY DAMAGE THE TANK FINISH.
- The tank must contain the liquid for which it was manufactured, any change in the liquid to be stored must be consulted with OJB FRP.
Where is FRP equipment used today?
Almost any type of structure can be constituted in an FRP compound. Listing its applications across all industries is virtually impossible. The chemical process industry was the first and is still the largest user of such material. Many industries such as chlorine, pulp, and paper, and power generation have particular corrosion problems and are heavy consumers of such equipment.
Below we name some of the GRP user industries and the equipment used.
electrochemical industry:
- Fans to extract fumes and vapors
- extraction ducts
- Tanks for managing electrochemical baths
- Coatings on metal or concrete tanks
Pulp and wood processing
- storage tanks
- Filter housings
- washers
- thickeners
- Ducts
- Extraction hoods
- Pulp bleaching tanks
sulfuric acid manufacturing
- Chimneys
- process reactors
- Storage tanks
transport of acids and alkalis
The chemical industry in general
- Vertical storage tanks
- flat bottom
- Conical
- Elliptical or inclined
- Domed, removable or integral lid
- Capless
- Indoor, outdoor, load-bearing, or self-supporting
- Horizontal storage tanks
- on surface
- Underground or transport
- Spheroidal
- tapered
- At positive atmospheric pressure or vacuum
- Dissolution and mixing tanks
- Chimneys