Glass-fused-to-steel (porcelain enamel) is a single source strong, integrated porcelain enamel and steel material fused together at over ° F, creating a hard inert, inorganic coating that NEVER needs painting. CST's glass-fused-to-steel is the premium technology in the tank market. The interior of all glass-fused-to-steel tanks feature VITRIUM' coating technology enhanced with titanium dioxide (Ti02) for the toughest glass available.
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CST's VITRIUM coating is the world's leading glass-fused-to-steel process for bolted storage tanks and has been field proven for more than 69 years. Along with VITRIUM coating, CST now offers EDGECOAT® II, the continuous innovative EDGECOAT technology and the ONLY process in the world that provides optimum glass encapsulation on all (4) sides of the sheet edges. VITRIUM coating features and benefits include:
EDGECOAT II is a result of CST's commitment to an ongoing product development and improvement program. This continuous innovative EDGECOAT technology is the ONLY process in the world that provides optimum glass encapsulation on all (4) four sides of the sheet edges. CST took the best EDGECOAT technology in the world and made it better with EDGECOAT II.
Following Porcelain Enameling Institute guidelines (PEI-101), EDGECOAT II sheets are mechanically rounded to specific radii that provides maximum glass adhesion to steel. The combination delivers the maximum corrosion resistance of VITRIUM glass coating with the greatest protection on every sheet.
Download Edgecoat II Technical Data Sheet
VITRIUM is our proprietary titanium Dioxide (TiO2) glassing process applied in a 3-coat, 1-fire (3c1f) process procedure. VITRIUM coating is also produced in a 3-coat, 2-fire (3c2f) process primarily when special colors are requested or thicker layers of glass are required.
The CST proprietary VITRIUM glass-fused-to-steel process provides:
The combination of glass quality and glass thickness provide the assurance that over 69 years of experience and over 100,000 structures successfully installed around the world will continue with each and every new structure installed.
Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
In CST, formerly Engineered Storage Products, launched an R&D project to develop a process for the direct application of our proprietary Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Glass. The result is a totally new, patented '3-coat, 1-fire' (3c1f) process for applying TiO2 Glass.
TiO2 is a very common ingredient used by many coating manufacturers for various reasons:
As a result of using higher amounts of TiO2 in the final white layer, a unique visual marker on the glass known as 'VITRIUM threading' becomes apparent. This is caused by thicker areas of the top white layer interspersed with thinner areas allowing the underlying bluecoat to show through opaquely. This immediately identifies the coating as VITRIUM.
Manufacturing Excellence
CST's DeKalb facility is ISO : quality system certified. Engineers design tanks for a wide range of standards including AWWA D103 Standard for Bolted Steel Water Storage Tanks, AISC, FM codes and NFPA Standard 22. Additionally, glass coatings meet ANSI/NSF Standard 61 requirements for indirect additives, making AQUASTORE®, HARVESTORE® and SLURRYSTORE® tanks ideal for liquid, feed, manure storage and digesters processes. Most importantly, extreme pride is taken in craftsmanship for a tank that endures the test of time.
From the automated manufacturing processes through the stage-by-stage inspection and even down to careful inspection of the glass. Our glass-fused-to-steel quality is the best in the industry. The best proof of the precision of CST's manufacturing procedures can be seen in the thousands of tank installations around the world.
Glass-fused-to-steel is the premium technology in the tank market. The factory-applied silica glass coating on AQUASTORE, HARVESTORE, SLURRYSTORE and NUTRISTORE tanks forms a hard, inert barrier for both the interior and exterior tank surfaces to guard against weather and corrosion. Glass-fused-to-steel is impermeable to liquids and vapors, controls undercutting caused by corrosion and offers excellent impact and abrasion resistance. The color won't fade or chalk and most graffiti can easily be removed. It NEVER needs painting!
VITRIUM Coating Glass Finish
New process technology has resulted in the development of CST's newest glass innovation ' VITRIUM coating. This coating combines the outstanding chemical and physical resistant properties of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) saturated glass with a highly engineered ultra-fine glass structure surface to create a high-performance glass-fused-to-steel technology. VITRIUM coating features and benefits include:
Color Options
AQUASTORE glass coatings are available in standard cobalt blue or four other premium exterior colors. Forest green, sky blue, desert tan or white premium colors are available at an additional cost. Inquire for custom colors.
CST (formerly A.O. Smith) first discovered the methodology of controlling corrosion by fusing glass to steel in the s. The technology was initially used in the brewing and hot water heater industries. While other uses for glass-fused-to-steel were explored, the first glass-fused-to-steel tank went into service in as a HARVESTORE silo. This agricultural use to store feed while retaining quality has been widely used for almost 69 years.
In the s, our Municipal and Industrial Division was formed and we subsequently launched AQUASTORE tanks for water, wastewater and other industrial liquid uses. Since , more than 100,000 AQUASTORE, HARVESTORE, SLURRYSTORE and NUSTRISTORE glass-fused-to-steel tanks have been installed in over 70 countries around the world.
Glass Fused to Steel Tanks is the most common tank specification for CSTR biogas digester reactor tanks. In this article, we discuss their pros and cons.
Enamel tanks, gfs tanks (GFtS), and Glass Fused Bolted Steel (Porcelain Enameled) tanks are all terms used to describe this type of tank.
It is essential that all anaerobic digestion tanks must be extremely durable, which means they must be resistant to corrosion as well as impact and abrasion. These tanks have that characteristic but as in most things, their advantages come with a few disadvantages. Read on and find out what those pros and cons really are.
Undoubtedly, the apex of coating technology in the storage tank industry lies in glass-fused-to-steel technology. These tanks find extensive application in various sectors including bio-energy (especially CSTR biogas plants), municipal sewage, landfill leachate, and Industrial Wastewater treatment.
Selecting a liquid storage tank might seem straightforward. After all, it's a vessel for holding liquids. Is there truly a substantial difference?
The reality is that each type of tank boasts its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The key to choosing the optimal product lies in evaluating these pros and cons against your specific requirements.
Glass-fused steel, also known as enameled steel, represents an advanced technology offering long-term performance with minimal maintenance requirements.
These tanks stand out as the preferred material for biogas digesters due to their fusion of steel toughness with the corrosion resistance of glass. Moreover, they serve as excellent choices for storing potable water, wastewater, industrial chemicals, bio-digesters, sludge, and various dry bulk materials.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit glass fused steel tanks.
In a cutting-edge furnace, enamel frit (glass compounds) undergoes chemical fusion with steel sheets at exceptionally high temperatures (ranging between 800 and 1,000 degrees Celsius). This process generates an integrated, porcelain-like coating that is firmly bonded, chemically inert, and impermeable to liquids.
Suppliers tout these tanks as capable of withstanding a range of conditions, such as temperatures up to 140°F and pH levels between 3 and 11, without succumbing to corrosion.
Glass fused to steel liquid tanks combines the strength of steel with the exceptional corrosion resistance of glass, offering numerous advantages over traditional epoxy-coated or welded painted storage tanks, including:
1. Outstanding anti-corrosion properties.
2. Swift installation in the factory, coupled with high-quality design, production, and stringent quality control.
3. Safety and simplicity: Operators require minimal long-term training, and plant owners benefit from reduced maintenance, leading to less time spent by workers in elevated positions.
4. Minimal impact from local weather conditions on these tanks.
5. Low initial investment, especially pertinent for biogas digesters and industrial wastewater treatment projects.
6. Cost-effective maintenance and ease of repair.
7. Reduced life-cycle costs due to the enduring coating.
8. Flexibility for relocation, expansion, and repurposing.
9. Aesthetic appeal with various color options.
10. Simplified cleaning compared to unlined equipment.
11. Customization for specific applications with tailored tank designs.
Even stainless steel tanks, while normally an ideal material for these tanks, cannot withstand the high sulphur which may accumulate at the top rim of commercial Digester tanks.
While Glass Fused To Steel Tanks offer numerous benefits, it's important to acknowledge some drawbacks that, although not extensive, are noteworthy:
1. Joint sealing is crucial at the points where the tank is bolted to the concrete base slab to prevent potential leaks.
2. Physical damage, like impacts from moving equipment or machinery, can lead to chipping of the glass coating at the impact site.
3. Concrete-based biogas tanks in Anaerobic Digestion Plants provide superior insulation compared to steel tanks, thereby avoiding the need for additional thermal insulation and associated costs.
4. When considering burial or partial burial, steel tanks might be less suited to withstand soil loads compared to reinforced concrete tanks.
5. Ensure that the purchased Glass Fused To Steel tank includes edge corrosion protection, as untreated panel edges may pose long-term issues in bolted steel tanks.
Nevertheless, implementing excellent design, installation, and operational practices can prevent or mitigate these aforementioned issues effectively.
In moderate climates, digester tanks are typically insulated and enveloped with plastic-coated aluminum profile sheeting along their outer edges.
This practice serves the purpose of safeguarding the installed insulation and provides additional protection to the tanks, shielding them from accidental impact damage to the fused-to-glass enamel during their operational use.
While the benefits of GFS tanks are substantial, their most notable disadvantage is often the initial expense. Glass-lined tanks tend to be considerably pricier compared to epoxy tanks.
Consequently, some businesses might initially perceive these upfront costs as prohibitive. However, it's crucial to examine the total cost of ownership throughout the tank's lifespan, considering reduced maintenance expenses and longer-lasting durability offered by GFS tanks, which can result in less frequent replacements.
Engineers and industry experts worldwide are increasingly selecting glass-fused-to-steel tanks for their resilience in challenging conditions, ensuring decades of trouble-free operation. However, tanks employing this unique technology require strict adherence to quality standards, notably ISO certification, to ensure superior manufacturing and defect-free performance.
Well-manufactured porcelain-enameled tanks boast a lasting coating that eliminates the need for recoating.
Among various substrates for glass coating like steel, aluminum, cast iron, copper, and brass, steel is commonly used in porcelain-enameled tanks, chosen based on size requirements'larger tanks often necessitate a more durable steel grade.
It's imperative to procure tanks only from manufacturers holding ISO certification, indicating adherence to over 16 standard inspections before sale approval. Glass Fused to Steel tanks prove highly advantageous for containing potable, municipal, agricultural, and industrial fluids due to their minimal maintenance needs and inherent resistance to contamination.