Which is better metal or plastic water tank?

15 Apr.,2024

 

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When it comes to storage tanks for various beverages, stainless steel and plastic are two of the most popular choices. The first one has long been the preferred material for storage tanks, thanks to its durability and resistance to corrosion and other damage. It’s also relatively easy to clean and maintain. On the other hand, plastic storage tanks are generally cheaper, lighter, and more flexible than stainless steel. They also don’t require as much maintenance, although they may not be as durable and can be prone to cracking. Both materials have their advantages and disadvantages, so which one is better?

What are stainless steel tanks? Advantages and disadvantages

Stainless steel tanks are made from sheets of stainless steel that are welded together and then sealed. They’re designed to be highly durable, corrosion resistant, and easy to clean and maintain. The main advantage of stainless steel tanks is their superior durability, which makes them ideal for storing liquids and products that may corrode other materials. Moreover, they’re simply more visually attractive. Want to learn more? Check our article: Stainless steel tanks – taking advantage of the aesthetics.

However, it needs to be mentioned that stainless steel storage tanks are more expensive than plastic solutions and may require more maintenance. Additionally, they can be difficult to move and transport.

What are the advantages of stainless steel tanks?

  • Stainless steel tanks are extremely durable and corrosion-resistant,
  • They’re easy to clean and maintain,
  • They’re visually appealing,
  • They have excellent thermal and electrical conductivity,
  • They’re non-porous and non-reactive, meaning they will not absorb odors or flavors from the substances they contain,
  • They’re strong and can withstand high pressures.

What are the disadvantages?

  • They can be expensive to purchase and maintain,
  • They’re heavy and difficult to transport,
  • They can be susceptible to staining if not properly cleaned,
  • They can be difficult to repair if damaged.

So, which ones are better? Stainless steel vs. plastic storage tanks?

What are plastic storage tanks? Advantages and disadvantages

Plastic storage tanks are large, industrial containers made from a variety of plastic materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene. They’re used in a variety of industries to store liquids, gases, and other materials.

What are the advantages of plastic storage tanks?

  • Plastic storage tanks are lightweight and durable,
  • They can be custom-made to fit a variety of spaces and can be transported easily,
  • They’re corrosion-resistant and can be used in a variety of temperatures and pressures,
  • They’re cost-effective and require little maintenance.

What are the disadvantages?

  • Plastic storage tanks are lightweight and durable,
  • They can be custom-made to fit a variety of spaces and can be transported easily,
  • They’re corrosion-resistant and can be used in a variety of temperatures and pressures,
  • They’re cost-effective and require little maintenance.

What beverages can be stored in the tanks?

Stainless steel and plastic tanks are commonly used to store alcoholic beverages.

Stainless steel tanks are popular for storing beer and wine since they’re corrosion-resistant and have excellent temperature control capabilities. Stainless steel tanks also offer superior hygiene and can withstand the high acidity of wine and beer.

Plastic tanks are also used to store alcoholic beverages, particularly spirits. They’re lightweight and can be easily moved and transported, making them an ideal choice for large-scale operations. Although they’re more affordable than stainless steel tanks (making them a popular choice for those looking to keep costs down), they aren’t as durable.

Which one is better – stainless steel vs. plastic storage tank?

Are you wondering which option is better – a stainless steel vs. plastic storage tank? It really depends on the application, as each type offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages. When making a choice, you should consider the following aspects:

  • Durability – stainless steel is a very durable material, resistant to corrosion and extreme temperatures. Plastic storage tanks are noticeably less durable. Additionally, they can be prone to cracking or leaking under certain conditions.
  • Set up – stainless steel storage tanks usually require professional installation, but they tend to be more cost-effective in the long run, provided you choose a reliable stainless steel tank manufacturer. On the other hand, plastic storage tanks are easier to install.
  • Varieties – both stainless and plastic storage tanks come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Thanks to it, they can be customized to fit specific needs. Therefore, before making up your mind, check out available options and see which ones meets your requirements.
  • Shipping costs – it’s one of the main differences between stainless steel vs. plastic storage tanks. As you can probably guess, stainless steel storage tanks are heavier and more expensive to ship than plastic models. However, at the same time, they’re also easier to transport due to their rigid structure. Plastic storage tanks are lighter and can be shipped more cost-effectively, but may need to be reinforced for long-distance transport.

The takeaway

Knowing the differences between stainless steel vs. plastic storage tanks can help you make an informed decision when it comes to storing liquids, beverages and other materials. 

If you’re in two minds, remember that stainless steel tanks are generally more durable and corrosion-resistant, but they can be expensive and may require professional installation. On the other hand, plastic storage tanks are lightweight and easier to install, but they’re prone to cracking and leaking.

When making a choice, consider aspects such as the application, durability, set up requirements and available types of storage tanks. Hopefully, this article will help you find a solution tailored to your budget, needs and liquids you want to store.

How to choose water tank, Steel or Plastic?


Industrial production and daily life often need to store water, the choice of water tank is a point can not be ignored. Generally, water tank can be divided into steel water tank and plastic water tank, and then some people often can’t help wondering: which is better between steel water tank and plastic water tank? How can I choose the most suitable one for myself that can not only guarantee the water safety, but also reduce the cost of investment as much as possible? According to decades of our water tank manufacturing experiences, the following article will give you a detailed introduction.

Steel water tank ensures the water more clean

Steel water tank is becoming more and more popular as its excellent performance on strength、corrosion resistance and lifespan. This kind of water tank is suitable for the storage of drinking water in the daily life of small residential areas, office buildings, schools and small factories, and water storage for fire fighting. The most used steel water tank is stainless steel water tank as its good rust prevention performance, it can be divided into vertical water tank、horizontal water tank、transportation water tank, above ground water tank, underground water tank, etc.   

Stainless steel water tank advantages

  1. Stainless steel water tank has characteristics of attractive appearance, light weight, long service life, simple installation, low cost, wide application, etc.
  2. Hygiene, non – toxic, high resistance to corrosion, it can thoroughly reflect sunlight to absorb heat, and fully guarantee the clean water as the inside of stainless steel water tank does not breed algae.
  3. Stainless steel water tank is equipped with air filtration device、 inspection manhole and anti poising locking device, greatly preventing the stored water from secondary pollution. Nowadays, stainless steel water tank is one of the most popular water storage tanks all over the world.
  4. Stainless steel water tank has an excellent sealing, the special sealing design completely eliminates the invasion of harmful substances and mosquito into the tank, ensures the water neither be polluted by the external environment, nor breed bacteria.

Stainless steel water tank disadvantage

Because of the particularity of its production material, stainless steel water tank is just suitable for the industrial production and domestic water storage, it cannot store hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or the liquid with larger basic and acidic content.

Plastic water tank is an ideal container for chemical solvent

The use range of plastic water storage tank contains the chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, pesticide industry, metallurgical industry, etc. It is widely used for the secondary water supply and water storage of high building, auxiliary equipment for water treatment and purification. What’s more, plastic water tank can store most of organic solvents and be regarded as the reaction container, can partly replace stainless steel, titanium, high nickel alloy steel and other materials. PE plastic water tank is a perfect storage container for chemical reaction corrosion solution and cleaning solution.

Advantage of PE plastic water tank

Plastic water storage tank can store and reverse most of the inorganic acid, salt solvents and most organic solvents, can partly replace stainless steel titanium, nickel, high alloy steel and some other material. This kind of water storage tank conforms to the dangerous goods storage and transportation regulation, it is an ideal container for storage and reaction of chemical corrosion solvents and clean solvents.

Disadvantage of PE plastic water tank

The plastic PE water storage tank is made of low molecular material, belongs to ordinary pressure vessel, so it is easy to crack with weak anti – pressure ability, just suitable for atmospheric pressure.

Conclusion

Industrial production and daily life often need to store water, the choice of water tank is a point can not be ignored. Generally, water tank can be divided into steel water tank and plastic water tank, and then some people often can’t help wondering: which is better between steel water tank and plastic water tank? How can I choose the most suitable one for myself that can not only guarantee the water safety, but also reduce the cost of investment as much as possible? According to decades of our water tank manufacturing experiences, the following article will give you a detailed introduction.The evident difference between steel water tank and plastic water tank is material, plastic water tank mostly adopts PE material, while the steel water tank is usually a stainless steel tank. There are four main points need to be considered when we choose a suitable water tank - price, capacity, quality, and application.Steel water tank is becoming more and more popular as its excellent performance on strength、corrosion resistance and lifespan. This kind of water tank isin the daily life of small residential areas, office buildings, schools and small factories, and water storage for fire fighting. The most used steel water tank is stainless steel water tank as its good rust prevention performance, it can be divided into vertical water tank、horizontal water tank、transportation water tank, above ground water tank, underground water tank, etc.Because of the particularity of its production material, stainless steel water tank is just suitable for the industrial production and domestic water storage, it cannot store hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or the liquid with larger basic and acidic content.The use range of plastic water storage tank contains the chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, pesticide industry, metallurgical industry, etc. It is widely used for the secondary water supply and water storage of high building, auxiliary equipment for water treatment and purification. What’s more, plastic water tank can store most of organic solvents and be regarded as the reaction container, can partly replace stainless steel, titanium, high nickel alloy steel and other materials. PE plastic water tank is a perfect storage container for chemical reaction corrosion solution and cleaning solution.Plastic water storage tank can store and reverse most of the inorganic acid, salt solvents and most organic solvents, can partly replace stainless steel titanium, nickel, high alloy steel and some other material. This kind of water storage tank conforms to the dangerous goods storage and transportation regulation, it is an ideal container for storage and reaction of chemical corrosion solvents and clean solvents.The plastic PE water storage tank is made of low molecular material, belongs to ordinary pressure vessel, so it is easy to crack with weak anti – pressure ability, just suitable for atmospheric pressure.

From this comparison, it is easy to draw a conclusion that plastic water tank and steel water tank are all ideal containers for storing water, the differences between them is only in the change of use range and environment. Plastic water tank is suitable for atmospheric storage and acid and alkali solvent, while steel water tank can store water with higher requirement in hygiene and use safety. In a word, when choose our own water tank, we should not only follow the business advice but also take into account our own actual application environment.

ANSON is a domestic famous steel tank manufacturer in China, we provide water tank with capacity right from tons to decades tons, every ANSON steel water tank has been certificated so that stands the test of time and quality. If you have needs for water tank, please feel free to contact us in the first time, we will help you to choose the most suitable and cost – efficiency water tank in time!    
 

Which is better metal or plastic water tank?

How to choose water tank, Steel or Plastic?

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