Product Testing

Creating Standards
When it comes to plastic tank testing, we've developed the standard, literally. As one of the pioneering manufacturers using thermoplastic for large tanks, we employ testing procedures to ensure the integrity of our tanks and components. Non-destructive testing of thermoplastic materials is difficult at best. Ultrasonic tests and X-rays are ineffective, as are most other conventional analysis methods. So how can we be assured of our stated material values? How can we be certain as to the strength of our welds?

There are no domestic 'standards' for our type of construction, not even through ASTM. The only international benchmark available is DVS-2205, which does not contain standards or codes, but is the German guidelines for thermoplastic welding. Because calculations are based on certain assumptions regarding material and weld strengths, we felt that it was necessary to develop reliable methods and procedures to validate them.

Method of Validation
  1. The first step of validation is contributed by our material suppliers. With each incoming shipment, our vendors provide us with traceable values of tensile strength and other factors. These values are inserted into our load and stress calculations for each application. 
  2. Secondly, we follow rigid shop procedures throughout our fabrication process. Our quality control system includes standard protocol for material inventory and traceability, material cutting and edge preparation, fitting techniques, weld profiles, and the regular calibration of our equipment. This internal control method also takes advantage of one of our finest assets, the experience of our senior technicians. At every level, our younger fabricators are learning from seasoned veterans, gaining their own expertise to secure our collective future. 
  3. The third component of our validation strategy is contributed by outside agents performing destructive tests on our sample weld profiles. Butt-fusion, corner-fusion, multiple extrusion, and hand-bead weld samples are submitted for tensile, torque, bending and other mechanical trials. The success of our welds through testing confirms that our established fabrication methods and procedures consistently produce reliable results. 

Other Procedures
In some cases, other in-house testing methods are implemented, such as the following:
  • We utilize spark testing to confirm the integrity of our welds.
  • We perform simple hydrostatic (ambient standing-water) tests when our tanks are finalized. 
  • With our in-house recirculation boiler, we complete hot tests at actual operating temperatures up to 185°F. These tests verify that the dimensional changes we have estimated will occur during operation.

Hot Water Testing

Ambient Water Testing