HYDROCHLORIC ACID LOOSE-FIT LININGS

The customer, Harber Coatings, specializes in protecting industrial parts against corrosion and abrasion. Their coating process involves the use of dip tanks that contain a solution of nickel, phosphorus, or hydrochloric acid. During a recent inspection, the tanks themselves showed signs of corrosive attack, so a call was made to Nilex.

After an initial site visit, Nilex provided several liner options. Maintenance-free tank operation and long service life were desired, so Nilex installed a polymeric liner equal to the task.

A tank’s durability and total lifecycle often depend on the influence of its primary adversary: corrosion. Harsh chemical reactions in process tanks generate significant corrosion, so material selection and quality control were crucial in this application.

Although the customer considered various companies, Nilex was chosen for the following reasons:

• Extensive tank lining experience
• Long geomembrane service life
• Spark testing capabilities to ensure liner integrity
• Production schedule that satisfied customer’s expectations

The customer also considered an alternative product, a rubber lining, but chose Enviroflex Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) geomembranes instead because polymeric linings provide rubber-like performance at a much lower cost than rubber or spray coatings.

Nilex’s Enviroflex LLDPE geomembranes have the ability to conform to irregular surfaces, offer greater resistance to stress cracks and facilitate easier welding. This increased flexibility makes Enviroflex geomembranes well suited to pre-fabrication into large panels, minimizing field work, therefore a very quick turnaround was achieved (and required by the customer).

A four-man crew spent a total of 64 man-hours on installation.

Storage and process tanks are only as good as their liners. The better the liner, the longer a tank lasts. Without functioning process tanks, the customer suffers expensive and unwanted downtime.

Nilex assisted with onsite API 653 consulting, product and technical support and efficient installation turnaround, quickly restoring Harber’s operation.

Nilex is committed to unearthing better results. Whether it’s for a civil, resource or environmental project, we offer the latest engineered and technically superior materials and techniques to save our customers time and money, and minimize the need to move or remove earth, and reduce the need for granular materials.

With over 35 years experience, a long-standing commitment to the environment and highly qualified staff, Nilex delivers the products and technologies that give clients an economic advantage with environmental benefit.