Plastic Equipment Solutions for Corrosive Environments: Meeting Industry Challenges Head-On

Corrosive environments can pose significant challenges to businesses operating within the chemical, water treatment, and fisheries industries. These industries often deal with harsh chemicals, aggressive substances, extreme temperatures, and moist or saline environments that can degrade conventional equipment, resulting in decreased efficiency, frequent maintenance, and increased overall costs. To withstand these harsh conditions and ensure the ongoing production, processing, and transportation of valuable resources, businesses in these industries must find innovative solutions to combat corrosion while maintaining operational efficacy and affordability.

Custom plastic equipment offers a highly effective solution to these challenges, with a range of specialised products, including plastic storage tanks, scrubbers, reactors, degassers, ventilation and piping systems, filters, and more. At Aquatera, we take pride in designing custom solutions for our clients that address their specific needs and requirements within their respective industries. Our plastic equipment solutions are built to withstand the demanding conditions present in corrosive environments, allowing businesses to maintain safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness even under the most challenging circumstances.

In this blog post, we will delve into the unique challenges presented by corrosive environments within the chemical, water treatment, and fisheries industries, exploring how custom plastic equipment solutions are tailored to tackle these obstacles head-on. We will discuss the properties and performance of various high-performance plastics utilised in the manufacture of custom equipment, showcasing how their corrosion-resistant qualities and structural resilience enable them to excel in corrosive environments. Additionally, we will highlight how companies across these industries can benefit from integrating custom plastic equipment into their operations, ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of their businesses.

Understanding the role of custom plastic equipment solutions in overcoming the challenges posed by corrosive environments is crucial for businesses looking to enhance their operational efficiency and maintain a competitive edge within their respective industries. By learning from these insights, industry professionals and decision-makers can make informed choices to safeguard their operations and propel their businesses towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.

 

The Unique Challenges of Corrosive Environments

Understanding the distinct challenges posed by corrosive environments is crucial for businesses within the chemical, water treatment, and fisheries industries. These challenges include:

 

1. Chemical Exposure: Exposure to aggressive chemicals, such as acids, alkalis, solvents, and other corrosive substances, can severely degrade conventional equipment materials like metal and concrete. This can result in structural failure, leakage, and, ultimately, significant operational downtime.
2. Temperature Extremes: High and low-temperature extremes can exacerbate the corrosive effects of many chemicals, further intensifying the potential for equipment degradation and failure.
3. Moisture and Saline Conditions: Environments found in water treatment facilities, fisheries, and marine applications often involve prolonged exposure to moisture or saline conditions that can lead to accelerated corrosion in metallic equipment, as well as the weakening of conventional materials over time.

 

Choosing the Right Materials: High-Performance Plastics

 

Selecting the appropriate materials for custom plastic equipment plays a vital role in ensuring optimal performance and longevity in corrosive environments:

1. Polyethylene (PE): PE is a highly versatile, chemically resistant plastic material suitable for a wide range of applications, including storage tanks and piping systems. Its excellent mechanical strength, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness make it a popular choice for custom plastic equipment in corrosive environments.
2. Polypropylene (PP): PP is another common material used in custom plastic equipment, known for its excellent chemical resistance, dimensional stability, and high-temperature performance. Its suitability for use in applications such as scrubbers, filters, and ventilation systems make it a go-to choice for companies navigating corrosive environments.
3. Fluoropolymers: Known for their outstanding chemical and thermal resistance, fluoropolymers like polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) offer unparalleled durability and resilience in the most demanding conditions, making them ideal for custom plastic equipment that will be exposed to highly aggressive chemicals, high temperatures, and increased wear and tear.

 

Design Solutions Tailored to Corrosive Environments

 

To further enhance the corrosion-resistant capabilities of custom plastic equipment, innovative design strategies and manufacturing processes are employed:

1. Double-Walled Construction: Custom plastic equipment such as storage tanks and containers can be designed with double-walled construction, providing an extra layer of protection against leaks and spills in the event of a potential failure in the primary wall. This design feature helps prevent environmental contamination and product loss caused by leaks or breaches in the equipment.
2. Chemical-Resistant Coatings and Linings: In cases where clients require the use of metallic equipment, protective chemical-resistant coatings and linings can be applied to minimise corrosion and extend the lifespan of the equipment. By teaming up with Aquatera, clients can count on receiving expert advice on selecting the most suitable coatings and linings for their specific applications.
3. Modular and Interchangeable Components: Hinged, bolted, or modular constructions allow for the efficient replacement of individual components in custom plastic equipment. This easy replacement can save valuable time and resources by reducing maintenance downtime and ensuring that only the corroded or damaged components are replaced, rather than the entire system.

 

 

 

Benefits of Custom Plastic Equipment Solutions in Corrosive Environments

By addressing the unique challenges associated with corrosive environments, custom plastic equipment offers numerous advantages

1. Enhanced Durability: Custom plastic equipment designed for corrosive environments boasts high-performance materials that can withstand prolonged exposure to aggressive substances, temperature extremes, and harsh conditions.
2. Reduced Maintenance: With lower susceptibility to corrosion and degradation, custom plastic equipment requires less frequent maintenance and replacement compared to more traditional materials, leading to reduced downtime and lower operational costs.
3. Improved Safety and Compliance: Custom plastic equipment's ability to resist leaks, spills, and structural failure helps businesses maintain safety and compliance with environmental regulations. By preventing hazardous material release and ensuing environmental contamination, businesses can prevent financial penalties and possible reputational damage resulting from non-compliance.

Conclusion

Custom plastic equipment solutions are specifically designed to meet the unique challenges posed by corrosive environments within the chemical, water treatment, and fisheries industries. By utilising high-performance plastics, innovative design strategies, and tailored manufacturing processes, custom plastic equipment offers enhanced durability, reduced maintenance requirements, improved safety, and superior operational efficiency for businesses navigating these demanding environments. 

At Aquatera, we are dedicated to creating custom solutions that address our clients' specific needs while ensuring the highest levels of quality, performance, and cost-effectiveness. Partner with us to leverage the advantages of custom plastic equipment solutions and protect your business from the challenges of corrosive environments.