{"id":3659,"date":"2023-06-24T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-24T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ntotank.com\/blog\/?p=3659"},"modified":"2025-02-19T13:16:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T19:16:30","slug":"poly-tank-insulation-for-regulating-chemical-storage-temperature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ntotank.com\/blog\/poly-tank-insulation-for-regulating-chemical-storage-temperature","title":{"rendered":"Poly Tank Insulation for Regulating Chemical Storage Temperature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Industry professionals and businesses who use bulk volumes of materials such as liquid chemicals, know that regulating storage temperature is often either a requirement or a high-value benefit to the operation. Chemicals and solutions have a range of material-specific properties that often have to be accommodated for in long term storage, refilling, and use. Examples of such chemical-specific properties include freezing, boiling, crystallization, precipitation, degradation, breakdown, evaporation, off-gassing, and vapor generation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poly tank insulation uses a thermal insulation material to help protect against and, in some cases, prevent these concerns in bulk storage and industrial tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Poly Tank Insulation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Poly tank insulation is a thermal insulation coating applied to the exterior of a polyethylene storage tank container product to help negate the effects of environmental factors such as temperature conditions, fluctuations, and sunlight exposure to maintain an overall desired storage temperature. The thermal insulation material recommended and used by our company is a polyurethane spray foam. Polyurethane is a synthetic material chosen for its ease of application, durability, specific properties, and reliable insulation resistance values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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During application, the polyurethane insulation is sprayed over the entire exposed surface of a storage tank to a 2\u201d nominal thickness. When fully applied and ready, the insulation protects the storage tank from the effects of direct sunlight, both UV exposure and warming, and ambient temperature changes to protect the internal temperature conditions of the chemical or liquid being stored.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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After polyurethane insulating and cure time, two coats of a waterproof latex mastic is applied over the entire surface. The mastic coating seals the polyurethane insulation, shielding and protecting it from the environment and weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Properties of Polyurethane Tank Insulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Polyurethane is light in weight, fire resistant, and provides appreciable thermal resistance. The specific formulation of polyurethane spray foam we use has a density of 2.0 to 3.0 pounds per cubic foot (lbs\/ft3<\/sup>) and a measure of thermal resistance, R-value, of 8.33 per inch. This is a more heavy-duty formulation and on a grade above many competitor products, meaning a more reliable, more effectively insulated storage tank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Request Poly Tank Insulation<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

When and Why to Use Poly Tank Insulation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In short, there are 5 main scenarios that relate to when and why to use poly tank insulation. These include: (1) when the application requires a set operation temperature for the liquid material being stored, (2) when the storage material is temperature sensitive, (3) when the material is sensitive to sunlight UV exposure, (4) when storage is in an extreme heat environment, and (5) when storage is in an extreme cold environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These scenarios will be looked at in more detail below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. When an Application Requires a Set Operation Temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Many chemicals, liquids, and product materials used across industrial, commercial, and manufacturing applications often require a set operation temperature. The operation temperature can be required to facilitate mixing, drive a chemical reaction, promote viscosity or fluidity, and\/or allow product formulation. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Insulating a storage tank will help maintain the desired operation temperature for liquid use by increasing the solution and storage container product\u2019s resistance to temperature fluctuations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. When the Stored Material is Temperature Sensitive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chemicals, mixtures, and water are all sensitive to select temperature ranges in respect to the liquid\u2019s freezing point, boiling point, rate of evaporation, off-gassing, and solubility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Concentrated sodium hydroxide, 50% NaOH, is an excellent example of a chemical that is sensitive to freezing and solubility concerns where temperatures have to be kept above 52\u00b0F to prevent freezing and\/or crystallization of NaOH from solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid are great examples where elevated temperatures and solution warming, such as from sunlight exposure, should be avoided to prevent off-gassing and the generation of chemical vapors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poly tank insulation will help protect a stored material from temperature ranges that can affect usability or stability and result in these undesired working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. When the Stored Material is UV Sensitive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Certain chemicals are sensitive to reactions and interactions, such as breakdown degradation, when directly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation energy from the sun. Sodium hypochlorite, bleach, and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) are examples of common materials frequently stored in bulk that are UV sensitive and can directly benefit from a polyurethane insulated storage tank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Polyurethane insulation provides an additional layer of protection, shielding the tank against UV impact and preventing, or severely reducing, the extent of UV penetration that can result in solution exposure and undesirable chemical reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. For Hot Environments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Company bulk liquid solutions are often stored outside and are therefore exposed to ambient temperature conditions. In the United States, many regions experience elevated seasonal summer temperatures that can be potentially damaging to the stored material or to the polyethylene storage tank itself. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For scenarios with hot environments where high temperature influences must be avoided to protect the quality or usability of the stored liquid, poly tank insulation provides a reliable and successful solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. For Cold Environments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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For outdoor liquid storage environments located in more northern regions and\/or with extended, cold winter seasons, freezing can become a concern. There are many concentrated and saturated chemical solutions with elevated freezing points and therefore, freezing must be avoided to maintain business operations and in some cases, prevent chemical damage. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Polyurethane insulation, especially when used together with heat tracing equipment, can eliminate the concern of product freezing and the interruption of onsite applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Storage Materials for Insulated Poly Tanks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The following is a list of common storage materials where insulated poly tanks are used for temperature maintenance and protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n