Why replace my stainless steel or steel tank/silo with composite?

A steel or stainless steel installation is the standard at many companies for the storage of liquids and/or solid raw materials. Logical, because (stainless) steel is a very strong material and suitable for almost every industry in different versions. Stainless steel/steel tanks also have a robust appearance.

However, they also have many drawbacks. For example, (stainless) steel installations are relatively expensive. Because the material is strong and tough, there are often high processing costs. With stainless steel, the corrosion stops because it cannot penetrate deeper into the material, but with steel, the corrosion layer is not oxygen-tight and this layer does not stop further corrosion. In addition, steel structures require regular maintenance, have a low fire safety and poorer sound and heat insulation.

Do you have a stainless steel or steel installation? And does it need to be replaced? We would like to introduce you to composite: the material of the future. We hope that after reading this article you will consider composite as a material for your new installation.

Composites are on the rise in various sectors or industries. Think, for example, of the aviation, construction, energy or automotive industry. The possibilities are endless.

But what exactly is composite? Composite is actually a plastic that consists of various components such as resin and fiberglass. Because it takes over the properties of the composite materials, composite materials in turn acquire completely new properties. The resin encompasses and binds the other material, which is usually a reinforced fiber.

Composite has many properties that offer clear advantages over traditional materials such as concrete, aluminum, steel and stainless steel. We are happy to explain the main advantages to you:

• 60-75% lighter than steel: the glass-resin ratio makes it extremely light but no less strong. Composite has an extremely high stiffness and tensile strength and can withstand high bulk density. This feature automatically ensures that high installation costs are not required. Usually a simple truck crane is sufficient for unloading and placing tanks and silos

• Virtually maintenance-free: apart from conventional cleaning, composite installations require almost no maintenance due to their resistance to all weather influences.

• Corrosion Resistant: Composite is impermeable to water, vapors & gases, as well as resistant to most aggressive chemicals.

• High insulation value: composite silos and tanks are insensitive to condensation, which ensures that the contents cannot rot, harden or clump.

• Resistant to temperatures of 60-100°C: composite offers excellent temperature performance.

• 35% better insulation value: with the same insulation thickness. This offers an annual saving of €50,000 on average.

• 41% lower CO2 footprint: 4 vs 6.8 kg CO2/kg material, 1,200 tons CO2   means the absorption capacity of 80,000 m2 of forest for 25 years.

• 100% recyclable: 30% of all composite that is recycled consists of dust. When this substance is depolymerized at a very low temperature, naphtha (a type of oil) is obtained, which can ultimately be used to make different types of plastics. Also read our full article about this.

Worth choosing composite as the material for your sustainable storage systems, isn't it?

There are many excellent areas of application for composite tanks and/or silos. Some examples:

Does the coating of your steel tank need to be replaced? Then consider a composite installation. The employees of M.I.P. are happy to advise you in making the right choice for your storage. Feel free to contact us or request a non-binding quote via our website for your installation(s).