Hi,=0AI'm new to the List, but just my two pennies worth: I thought the tan
k was made from polypropylene, not polyethylene.=0ARegards=0APeter Morgans
=0A =0A=0A________________________________=0A From: Robert Borger <rlborger
@mac.com>=0ATo: europa-list@matronics.com =0ASent: Saturday, 9 November 201
3, 19:54=0ASubject: Re: Europa-List: Fuel tank fluorination=0A =0A=0A--> E
uropa-List message posted by: Robert Borger <rlborger@mac.com>=0A=0AAndrew,
=0A=0ATwo questions:=0A=0A1. What is the recommended cleaning procedure to
ensure the tank isn=99t =0Afried?=0A=0A2. What is the timing on proce
dure?=0A=0AI have my new tank almost ready to install.=C2- Just a few mor
e supports =0Ato make up and the tank will be ready to go back in.=0A=0ABlu
e skies & tailwinds,=0ABob Borger=0AEuropa XS Tri, Rotax 914, Airmaster C/S
Prop.=0ALittle Toot Sport Biplane, Lycoming Thunderbolt AEIO-320 EXP=0A370
5 Lynchburg Dr.=0ACorinth, TX=C2- 76208-5331=0ACel: 817-992-1117=0Arlborg
er@mac.com=0A=0AOn Nov 4, 2013, at 10:16 PM, Andrew Sarangan <asarangan@gma
il.com> wrote:=0A=0ALooking through the email archives, there seem to be so
me=0Amisunderstanding on what the tank is made of. It is polyethylene (PE).
=0AIt is definitely not PTFE (Teflon) or nylon as some had suggested. I=0Ad
on't know why polyethylene was chosen, but my guess is it is the=0Arotomold
ing process itself. The majority of rotomolding is done with=0Apolyethylene
so that may have been the most cost-effective choice.=0A=0AWeather it is L
DPE (Low density polyethylene) or HDPE, neither one is=0Agreat with gasolin
e. Assuming it is LDPE, the attached chart lists it=0Aas "Limited Compatibi
lity" at 20C and "Not Satisfactory" at 60C.=0AGranted, liquids don't heat u
p quickly, but over a full hot summer=0Aweek, 40C may not be unrealistic. I
t would be interesting to examine=0Aif the tank failures have come mostly f
rom warmer climates.=0A=0AThere have also been discussions about inadequate
support of the tank=0Athat could lead to tank failures. This is true, but
polyethylene=0Ashould only yield under stress, not crack. Cracking is more
indicative=0Aof a brittle material. My tank has been sitting on the shelf f
or over=0A12 years and when I was drilling out the bosses this week, it fel
t=0Awaxy and ductile, not hard and brittle. So it is not the age of the=0At
ank that makes it brittle. It is the exposure to gasoline. All of=0Athis po
ints to the importance of a good barrier coating, and probably=0Aeven more
important in hot climates.=0A=0AI was also told by Fluoroseal that automoti
ve level coating is=0Agenerally not done in Europe. Not knowing the level o
f coating is the=0Amain reason I am pursuing a second coating on my tank.
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