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Q: Can any fiberglass manufacturer build a boat or a chemical storage tank?
A: At the start of the fiberglass industrial era (1950-1960) a majority of fabricators were producing products in all or several of the FRP fields. As the industry advanced and new production techniques and advanced materials were developed, the surviving companies tended to move toward one or two of the specific branches of the FRP industry. These branches are:
· Marine (Boat Builders)
· Tub and Spa (Sinks, Tubs and Showers)
· Architectural (Buildings and Building Facades)
· Transportation (Truck Campers and Mass Transit Parts)
· Corrosion (Tanks, Duct, Chemical Storage and Handling)
Although the basic technology is the same, the production equipment, tooling and experience with specialized materials might make it difficult for a tub and spa manufacturer to build a 10,000 gallon chemical storage tank.
Q: What are the methods of fabrication in the corrosion industry?
A: There are several methods of fabrication for a vessel in the corrosion industry. The two most widely used fabrication techniques are Contact Molding (hand lay-up and spray-up) and Filament Winding. There are several other lamination methods such as Centrifugal Casting, Vacuum Forming and Compression Molding but these are not widely used in the corrosion field. Contact molded tanks are covered by the ASTM D 4097 Standard, while filament wound tanks are under the ASTM D 3299 Standard. Both methods will provide a serviceable vessel for most environments. Contact molded may be a better method to use in severe chemical environments. See "Discussion outlining the characteristics of the Contact Molding and Filament Winding methods of fabrication in the FRP industry".
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