The coating MAY be the "wax in styrene" that i was told i "Should" use but
didnt have to. It is added to the vinyl ester to make it non porous
at a molecular level apparently. Lets face it though, in most places the use
of Auto fuel with ethanol is not allowed for aviation. At this point
about 60% of the fuels in Australia have ethanol in them, and MOST of the 98
and 100 octane fuels have at least 5% ethanol.
When I eventually get to the test sample tank, i will try the "wax in
styrene" and then test it with a 50% ethanol blend and let you all know the
results.
craig
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of ALAN YERLY
Sent: Tuesday, 1 January 2008 7:43 AM
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Europaprecision?
Sorry to get into this so late but on the subject of fiberglass tanks.
Grahm is correct about the carbon fiber. The tank needs to move with the
plane. I haven't had the courage to fill my four year empty tank. Pray for
me.
On the fiberglass resins for fuel tanks consider a hard lesson learned by
my friends at Tampa Bay Aerosport. They had to disassemble a wing to remove
the tanks after a gas station accidentally added ethanol to the premium
fuel. Even the vinyl ester is affected as it turns it into a sticky sludge.
Epoxy is worse. I never knew that the resins were so intolerant to ethanol.
If you use auto fuel rather than 100LL keep an ethanol tester handy or only
get auto fuel from a trusted fuel depot. For normal gasoline and av-gas,
you'll have no problem. If you are unlucky like us in the green state of
Florida many of our stations are adding 10% ethanol to all blends, they are
supposed to post it on the pumps so be careful.
The boating industry up north has sealed all their tanks (mostly poly and
vinyl ester tanks) with a special coating for the inside of fiberglass tanks
which makes them impervious to ethanol. I'll see if I can get a brand name
and pass it on.
Bud Yerly
----- Original Message -----
From: craig bastin
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 8:38 AM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Europaprecision?
<craigb@onthenet.com.au>
yes the one i intend to make as a test, will be glass an vinyl ester.
craig
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Graham
Singleton
Sent: Monday, 31 December 2007 11:08 PM
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Europaprecision?
<grahamsingleton@btinternetcom>
No problem with vinyl ester, but I would recommend to use glass instead
of carbon. Carbon is too stiff and would stop the airplane flexing.
Graham
craig bastin wrote:
<craigb@onthenet.com.au>
>
> Steve
>
> just on the subject of tanks and making new ones, Have you considered
making
> a tank out of carbon fiber and vinyl-ester resin
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