How a plastic jerry can is matched to fuel, chemicals or food, and what fluorination does.
Not all HDPE is the same can. The grade, the wall and a surface treatment called fluorination decide whether a plastic container holds fuel, an aggressive chemical, or food. Here is how the plastic side is specified.
High-density polyethylene is blow moulded into a seamless container with controlled wall thickness. It resists many chemicals, does not corrode, and is light and low-cost. A UN-rated HDPE jerry can carries a 3H1 code for a narrow neck or 3H2 for a wide mouth.
Hydrocarbon fuels permeate slowly through plain HDPE, which loses product and breaches fuel-emissions rules. Some solvents also swell the wall. Plain HDPE suits water and many chemicals, but not fuel over time.
Fluorination treats the inner surface with fluorine gas, forming a barrier layer that sharply cuts permeation and improves resistance to fuels and aggressive solvents. A fluorinated HDPE can holds fuel and hard chemicals that plain HDPE cannot, and meets stricter permeation limits.
A food-grade HDPE is made from an approved resin with food-contact documentation. An antistatic HDPE dissipates static charge, which matters when decanting flammable liquids, as one part of a proper earthing and bonding routine. Match the grade to the liquid and the hazard.
Our HDPE range covers fluorinated, food-grade, antistatic and wide-mouth cans. Send us the liquid and we specify the grade, the wall and whether fluorination is needed.
Tell us your market, your fuel and your volumes. We come back with a specification sheet and a quotation.