Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0008-0247
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2005-09-20T04:00Z

MARINE
FUEL
CONTAINMENT 

A
PERMANENT
SOLUTION
Welcome 
INTRODUCTION
This
presentation
outlines
a
history,
a
strategy,

and
a
viable
technology
option
that
address
the
needs
and
concerns
of
not
only
the
Boat
building
community,
but
also
the
USCG,
the
ABYC
and
the
EPA.
to
Miami 
HISTORY
Several
years
ago
the
USCG
commissioned
a
study
of
corrosion
in
aluminum
fuel
tanks
that
exposed
several
uncontrollable
factors
that
lead
to
subsequent
tank
failure.

In
more
recent
years,
the
EPA
quantifies
hydrocarbon
inventories
from
marine
industry
and
cites
previously
performed
USCG
tests
showing
elevated
emissions
from
Crosslink
HDPE
as
much
as
1.5
grams
per
gallon
per
day.

Which
brings
us
to
the
reason
we
are
all
here
today 
How's
your
hotel?

 
mine
too.
ECSI
STRATEGY
Nov
2001
Realizing
a
need,
ECSI
researched
and
developed
a
viable
product
solution
for
Marine
industry
fuel
containment,
including
a
real
time
dialogue
with
the
EPA
in
an
effort
to
develop
a
technology
to
achieve
the
proposed
permeation
standard
of
.08
g/
g/
day.

Oct
2003
ECSI
test
tank
at
Ann
Arbor
Michigan
,
comes
in
at
.047g/
g/
day
Jan
2004
Prototype,
test,
prove
custom
fabrication
and
custom
molding
feasibilities,
test
to
ABYC
standards.

Aug
2004
Begin
construction
of
tanks
and
develop
efficient
production
processes
OK,
get
ready 
TECNOLOGY
OPTION
The
migration
of
hydrocarbon
molecules
must
be
controlled
at
a
molecular
level.

Due
diligence
by
ECSI
discovered
a
containment
barrier
compound
commonly
used
in
other
industries,
that
can
easily
be
adapted
for
marine
fuel
containment
purposes.

This
same
compound
keeps
the
fizz
in
pop
bottles,
stops
supermarket
meat
from
turning
brown
and
provides
permeation
reduction
in
a
host
of
industrial
applications.
This
is
where
it
gets
interesting..
TECNOLOGY
OPTION
"
They
say
the
best
things
come
in
the
smallest
packages" 

Nanomer­
Chemically
Modified
Montmorillonite
for
Nanocomposite
Formulation
In
simple
terms 
treated
volcanic
ash,
that
when
dispersed
into
an
appropriate
carrier
matrix
forms
a
torturous
path
for
molecules
with
a
propensity
for
rapid
migration.
See
what
I
mean 
Nanocomposites,
when
dispersed
into
a
carrier
matrix,

act
somewhat
like
pages
in
a
book.
When
a
hydrocarbon
molecule
hits
one
page,
it
must
then
migrate
sideways
to
find
it's
way
through
and
ultimately
slow
or
stall
prior
to
exiting
to
the
atmosphere.
I
like
to
call
This
slide 

 
Yee
Ha!..
Bentonite
(
Inorganic
layered
material)

Modified
to
polymer
grade
Montmorillonite
Exfoliated
an
dispersed
in
appropriate
Proportions
to
provide,
amongst
a
host
of
other
benefits
a
hydrocarbon
migration
Barrier.
And
you
thought 

The
other
slide
was 

Weird
Unsaturated
Polyester
Nanocomposites
Unsaturated
polyester
(
UPE)
nanocomposites
find
application
in
fiber
reinforced
products
used
in
the
marine,
transportation
and
construction
industries.
UPE
nanocomposite
additives
are
available
from
ECSI,
Cocoa,
FL.
These
products
provide
greater
chemical
resistance,
especially
to
corrosive
chemicals
and
sea
water.

Depending
on
the
specific
corrosive
tested,
ASTM
D
543
shows
that
Relative
Uptakes
can
be
reduced
by
70%.
UPE
nanocomposites
are
also
more
dimensionally
stable
and
fire
resistant.

UPE/
fiberglass
nanocomposites
are
being
used
for
boat
tanks
and
accessories.
In
addition
to
the
above
benefits,
accessories
are
less
prone
to
color
fading.
Sag
control
is
another
major
benefit,
also
seen
in
epoxy
formulations.
If
you
took
time
to
read
this
balloon 

Be
advised
there
will
be 

 
Test
°
40%
higher
tensile
strength
°
68%
higher
tensile
modulus
°
60%
higher
flexural
strength
°
126%
higher
flexural
modulus
°
Heat
distortion
temperature
increased
from
65o
(
nylon­
6)
to
152oC
°
Other
researchers
have
observed
the
following
properties
in
other
clay
nanocomposite
systems:

°
Increased
solvent
resistance
°
Decreased
thermal
expansion
coefficient
°
Reduced
permeability
°
Flame
retardant
capability
Benefits
beyond
hydrocarbon
containment
When
used
as
an
additive
in
the
right
proportions
nanomer
can
provide
structural
integrity
benefits
which
lend
them
to
use
for
structural
components
such
as
marine
fuel
tanks
Ok
time
to
pay
attention 
February
2004
ECSI
partnered
with
Nanocor
to
facilitate
Nano
technology
introduction
and
implementation
into
the
marine
industry
In
simple
terms 
Nanocor
knows
Nanocomposites,
ECSI
knows
marine
fuel
tanks!
We
have
chosen
good
partners 
TECNOLOGY
OPTION
"
Let's
talk
Tanks" 

Marine
industry
fuel
tanks
must
be
 

Able
to
be
custom
fabricated
and
baffled,
have
low
permeation,
moldable,
have
zero
corrosion,
boat
material
compatible
and
able
to
be
built
at
a
low
cost!
We've
done
our
homework 
TECNOLOGY
OPTION
"
Lets
talk
Tanks" 

Fabricated­
Using
an
appropriate
carrier
matrix
for
our
fuel
barrier
and
compatible
sub
strait,
we
have
successfully
developed
a
custom
fabrication
process
that
allows
for
appropriate
baffling,
fitting
placement
and
the
usual
mid
production
run
changes.

Initial
testing
on
tanks
built
with
this
process
withstood
13
lbs/
psi
over
a
24hour
test
period
Passed
impulse,
slosh
and
drop
test,
with
minimal
visible
fatigue
We
have
all
the
answers 
TECNOLOGY
OPTION
"
Lets
talk
Tanks" 

Molded­
Again
using
an
appropriate
carrier
matrix
for
our
fuel
barrier
and
compatible
molded
sub
strait,
we
have
successfully
developed
an
inexpensive
custom
molding
process
that
facilitates
high
volume
runs
e.
g..
entry
level
boats
etc.

Average
mold
cost
$
2,500.00
Part
rejection
less
than
8%
of
part
cost.

Part
rejection
loss
less
than
2%
Actual
baffles
not
slosh
ridges
can
be
molded
into
substrate
We've
developed
the
 
technologies
of
tomorrow..
TECNOLOGY
OPTION
Molded/
fabricated
tank
substrate
Molded/
fabricated
tank
substrate
Bonding
agent
Nano
treated
hydrocarbon
barrier
matrix
Nano
treated
hydrocarbon
barrier
reinforced
matrix
TECNOLOGY
OPTION
Fitting
placement
Early
prototypes
used
aluminum
and
stainless
steel
sandwich
plates
for
fitting
placement
and
installation.

Production
models
will
utilize
composite
threaded
openings
to
accommodate
stainless
steel
or
composite 
fills,
vents,
sending
units
etc.

Nano­
treated
threaded
opening
Tank
substrate
Bonding
agent
Fitting
support
block
PRODUCT
AVAILABILITY
NANOMER
Presently
available
through
ECSI,
a
Cocoa
Florida
technology
based
product
development
and
distribution
company.

FUEL
TANKS
Presently
built
under
license
by
Pompano
Beach,

Florida.
Tank
you 

for
your
attention
Tank
you 

Not
a
typo!