Choose Steel
LMT believes strongly in the value of steel. Steel tanks are the long-lasting, tried & true value in the industry. With it's value pricing, strength and durability, steel is the preferred material for the serious pumper.
Hot-Dip Galvanizing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot-dip_galvanizing
The Hot-Dip Galvanizing Process (Overview)
Step 1: Preparation
As the steel products arrive at our plant, they are thoroughly inspected for drainage and venting requirements. In the staging area, an efficient handling method is chosen to transport the material through the initial cleaning process.
Step 2: Cleaning
The material is cleaned in three steps:
• Total immersion in a hot alkali solution to remove organic compounds.
• Acid pickling removes rust or scale.
• Fluxing eliminates oxides from the surface of the steel and promotes the proper-metallurgical bonding of the zinc in the next step.
Step 3: Hot-Dip Galvanizing
The steel is totally submerged in a bath of molten zinc until it reaches bath temperature (approximately 840° F.) at which time the zinc reacts with the steel to form zinc/iron intermetalic layers on all surfaces, inside and out.
Step 4: Quality Inspection
The galvanized steel product is cleaned, weighed and then thoroughly inspected for coating thickness, appearance and compliance with applicable ASTM specifications. Calibrated instrumentation insures efficient inspection.
As the steel products arrive at our plant, they are thoroughly inspected for drainage and venting requirements. In the staging area, an efficient handling method is chosen to transport the material through the initial cleaning process.
Step 2: Cleaning
The material is cleaned in three steps:
• Total immersion in a hot alkali solution to remove organic compounds.
• Acid pickling removes rust or scale.
• Fluxing eliminates oxides from the surface of the steel and promotes the proper-metallurgical bonding of the zinc in the next step.
Step 3: Hot-Dip Galvanizing
The steel is totally submerged in a bath of molten zinc until it reaches bath temperature (approximately 840° F.) at which time the zinc reacts with the steel to form zinc/iron intermetalic layers on all surfaces, inside and out.
Step 4: Quality Inspection
The galvanized steel product is cleaned, weighed and then thoroughly inspected for coating thickness, appearance and compliance with applicable ASTM specifications. Calibrated instrumentation insures efficient inspection.
Did you know that aluminum is actually a very reactive metal and is a major component of solid rocket fuel and explosives?
Aluminum is considered generally more resistant to corrosion than steel. However, the corrosion resistance of aluminum is dependent upon a protective oxide film. This film is stable in aqueous media when the pH is between about 4.0 and 8.5. The oxide film is naturally self-renewing and accidental abrasion or other mechanical damage of the surface film is rapidly repaired. When exposed to pH levels outside the range acceptable PH level the oxide layer is disrupted and corrosion can be severe and rapid. Steel tanks are also subject to corrosion by bacteria, but steel is less reactive than aluminum when the two are compared without considering the extra protection of aluminums oxide surface. Therefore, the use of caustic compounds with aluminum must be very carefully monitored or sever corrosion will occur.
Reference: Corrosion Doctors <http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/MatSelect/corraluminalloys.htm>