The importance of surface treatments for tanks

Baglioni SpA manufactures steel, carbon, and stainless steel pressure equipment used for storage and processing in various industries.

Over time, wear and tear, moisture, lack of maintenance, not draining the condensation that can be generated inside the tank, damage, and physical and mechanical stresses can cause the steel to oxidize to such an extent that the tank needs to be replaced.

To ensure long service life, all our tanks undergo suitable surface treatments.

These are processes that are intended to go to modify the surface of the product and give it different properties from those it already possesses.

They can be:

• conclusive treatments: when they represent the final step in production
• preparatory treatments: when they prepare the surface for other treatments

Our surface treatments are specific and of high quality and optimize their durability.

What surface treatments for tanks are for

Surface treatments ensure delivery of a complete, ready-to-use product with several important benefits.

First of all, they improve the aesthetic properties of the tank.

They go in fact to:

• remove any surface defects
• provide flawless texture
• Ensure maximum colorfastness, even in UV light
• achieve an optimal finish

They then have a protective function.

Surface treatments make the product resistant to chemical and atmospheric agents, corrosion and wear.

They are also important for the physical and mechanical characteristics that the product will take on after their application.

Finally, surface treatments are very useful when the tank needs subsequent finishing work. They actually go to make the surface ready to undergo further processes, improving the appearance of the finished product.

Do you want to know more?

Also discover Baglioni’s industrial powder coating of tanks

The types of surface treatments for tanks

There is no single surface treatment that can meet all needs.

For this reason, in Baglioni we perform different types of treatments, depending on the needs of the Customer and the purpose and destination of use of the product.

Specifically, we perform:

• hot dip galvanizing
• ALM painting
• electropolishing
• pickling and passivation

Hot dip galvanizing

Hot-dip galvanizing is the main anticorrosive surface treatment for protecting steel from weathering.

The tank is immersed in a molten zinc bath at about 450°. During this process, the inner and outer surface composition changes, becoming an iron-zinc intercrystalline alloy.

This alloy is very strong, durable, and difficult to scratch by external agents and abrasion.

The protective thickness varies with the type of material, immersion time and temperature of the zinc bath.

ALM Painting

ALM painting is a specific surface treatment for tank interiors, performed by applying special protective paints.

These paints ensurehigh resistance to corrosive agents and maximum durability.

After a thorough chemical washing and pickling stage, the raw vessels are sprayed with thermosetting epoxy resin . Next, the final stage of baking takes place.

ALM treatment is certified in accordance with the Ministerial Decree of March 21, 1973, as amended on April 6, 2004, which regulates the hygiene of food containers containing substances for personal use.

Electropolishing

Electropolishing is a final surface treatment: it is a surface finishing technique by which metal is electrolytically removed with the goal of minimizing roughness.

It gives the tank better corrosion resistance and a significant increase in smoothness and cleanability.

This process makes it possible to meet the highest hygiene requirements that are required in certain applications. It is therefore ideal in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical and biochemical industries.

Pickling and passivation

Pickling and passivation are two complementary internal and external surface treatments dedicated to the stainless tank.

The pickling process is essential to remove oxide impurities and ferrous contamination formed in the processing stages and can be of two types:

• Mechanical pickling: with silica sands or stainless steel brushes
• Chemical pickling: with immersion in acid baths

Next, passivation treatment is performed: this is a final protective treatment designed to make the surface unalterable and resistant to the action of atmospheric and corrosive agents.

Indeed, passivation allows any contaminants on the surface to dissolve, restoring the protective layer.

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