Corrosive chemical containment system

Claim 2

A corrosive chemical containment system, consisting essentially of: (a) a metallic, corrosive chemical containment vessel; (b) a homogeneous, porous, chemical corrosion barrier coating upon the inner surfaces of the vessel exposed to corrosive chemical, consisting essentially of: (1) a matrix of chemical corrosion-resistant polymer, and (2) from about 20 to about 40 parts by volume, per 100 parts by volume of chemical corrosion-resistant polymer matrix, of an inert filler having a maximum size ranging from about 0.25 to about 200 microns; and (c) a corrosive chemical within the vessel, separated from the metallic vessel by the homogeneous, porous, chemical corrosion barrier coating.

Claim 3

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 1, wherein the chemical corrosion-resistant polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride; polytetrafluoroethylene; a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene; a copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene; a copolymer of polytetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and a copolymer of polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkylperfluorovinyl ether.

Claim 4

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 1, wherein the chemical corrosion-resistant polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride.

Claim 5

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 2, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, silica, carbon, graphite, aluminum silicate and mica.

Claim 6

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 4, wherein the filler is of approximately spherical shape and has a maximum size of from about 0.5 to about 30 microns.

Claim 7

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 5, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, silica, carbon and graphite.

Claim 8

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 4, wherein the filler is fibrous particles having a diameter of from about 0.5 to about 10 microns and a length of from about 10 to about 20 times their diameter.

Claim 9

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 7, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon, graphite and aluminum silicate.

Claim 10

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 4, wherein the filler is flake-shaped particles having a maximum thickness of from about 0.25 to about 5 microns and a maximum surface dimension of from about 4 to about 20 times their maximum thickness.

Claim 11

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 9, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, mica, carbon and graphite.

Claim 12

A corrosive chemical containment system according to claim 1, wherein the filler is electrically non-conductive, and wherein the barrier coating has a ratio of dielectric strengths wet with water to dry ranging from about 1:4 to about 1:2.

Claim 13

A process of containing a corrosive chemical in a metal vessel of protecting the metal vessel against action of corrosive chemical contained within the vessel, consisting essentially of the steps of: (a) applying, to the inner surfaces of a metallic, corrosive chemical containment vessel to be exposed to corrosive chemical, a homogeneous, porous, chemical corrosion barrier coating, consisting essentially of: (1) a matrix of chemical corrosion-resistant polymer, and (2) from about 20 to about 40 parts by volume, per 100 parts by volume of chemical corrosion-resistant polymer matrix, of an inert filler having a maximum size ranging from about 0.25 to about 200 microns; and (b) introducing a corrosive chemical into the vessel, separated from the metallic vessel by the homogeneous, porous, chemical corrosion barrier coating.

Claim 14

A process of containing a corrosive chemical in a metal vessel of protecting the metal vessel against action of corrosive chemical contained within the vessel, consisting essentially of the steps of: (a) applying, to the inner surfaces of a metallic, corrosive chemical containment vessel to be exposed to corrosive chemical, a homogeneous, porous, chemical corrosion barrier coating, consisting essentially of: (1) a matrix of chemical corrosion-resistant polymer, and (2) from about 20 to about 40 parts by volume, per 100 parts by volume of chemical corrosion-resistant polymer matrix, of an inert filler having a maximum size ranging from about 0.25 to about 200 microns; and (b) introducing a corrosive chemical into the vessel, separated from the metallic vessel by the homogeneous, porous, chemical corrosion barrier coating.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 12, wherein the chemical corrosion-resistant polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride; polytetrafluoroethylene; a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene; a copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene; a copolymer of polytetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and a copolymer of polytetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl-perfluorovinyl ether.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 12, wherein the chemical corrosion-resistant polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 13, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, silica, carbon, graphite, aluminum silicate and mica.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 15, wherein the filler is of approximately spherical shape and has a maximum size of from about 0.5 to about 10 microns.

Claim 19

A process according to claim 16, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, silica, carbon and graphite.

Claim 20

A process according to claim 15, wherein the filler is fibrous particles having a diameter of from about 0.5 to about 30 microns and a length of from about 10 to about 20 times their diameter.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 18, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon, graphite and aluminum silicate.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 15, wherein the filler is flake-shaped particles having a maximum thickness of from about 0.25 to about 5 microns and a maximum surface dimension of from about 4 to about 20 times their maximum thickness.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 20, wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of glass, mica, carbon and graphite.

Claim 24

A process according to claim 12, wherein the filler is electrically non-conductive, and wherein the barrier coating has a ratio of dielectric strengths wet with water to dry ranging from about 1:4 to about 1:2.