Laboratory Study on the Failure of Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) Fuel Tank

摘要

The ADF has been using collapsible Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) tanks in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea for storage of diesel fuel. During usage, leakage was reported from the top surface of the tanks that were coated with a polyester urethane. The work detailed in this report covers an examination of the failed material and potential mechanisms to replicate the failure in the laboratory. Hydrolysis of the polyurethane coating was found to be the dominant cause of failure, with possible contributory effects from the manufacturing process.