GRP tank FOC

Hi Carbonfibre - I would like to applaud the effort you are making to manufacture a tank resistant to modern fuels, especially after reading your posts about how bad sealers are!



Thanks,
Geoff

Making GRP tanks which are fully resistant to attack by ethanol, is a great deal easier than trying to seal an existing tank with a product which simply isnt fit for purpose! There are several resin systems which are suitable, and the only reason for ongoing failures has to do with producers wanting to save pennies by cutting corners during the manufacturing process.

A lot of ultralight aircraft use mogas in fibreglass tanks. They are sealed by sealers which presumeably are 'fit for purpose'.

Will your tanks be resistant to acetone ?

Failures in ultralight aircraft are in fact pretty common.............at least according to someone directly involved with them, who I spoke to on the phone a couple of months ago. Manufacturers are going over to alloy or HDPE plastic tanks, for pretty much the same reasons which result in recently made GRP tanks for motorcycle use failing! There has been some short term success sealing ultralight aircraft tanks with modified polysulphide sealers, but to my knowledge none of these have been properly tested, so long term results are still unclear.