What Makes Alkatuff Different from Other Plastics?

Today, most water tanks are made out of plastic, but not all plastics are equal. Alkatuff Polyethylene is a specialised kind of plastic that is made especially for water tanks in environments like Australia’s. Because of its specialised design, it stands out from other plastics in a number of ways, most importantly for being durable and long-lasting, even in harsh conditions.

What Is Polyethylene?

Polyethylene, or poly, is a kind of plastic. In fact, it’s the most popular kind of plastic in production because of its versatility. Poly is food-safe, tough, and recyclable. You probably use it every day; it’s used in plastic grocery bags, milk bottles, water pipes, and much more. In general, poly is highly malleable and withstands impact well. It is not permeable, meaning that it does not absorb water and absorbs very little gas or vapour. There are, however, different kinds of polyethylene. The plastic can be made with different molecular structures, and it is usually classified by density. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is used for products such as plastic bags and everyday containers. High density polyethylene (HDPE) is thicker and tougher and is better for heavy-duty uses, such as household chemical containers, piping, and even plastic furniture. A third kind of poly, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), is a relatively new kind of plastic. It’s produced at lower pressures and temperatures, and the result is a plastic with a narrow molecular weight distribution. This means that it is flexible, like LDPE, but similarly strong to dneyHDPE. It is very resistant to punctures, impact, cracking and chemicals. Alkatuff is a high specification type of LLDPE made by Qenos at its facility in Botany in Sydney.

 What’s So Special about Alkatuff?

Some kinds of polyethylene, even LLDPE, can become brittle as a result of sun exposure, and they can gradually develop cracks and break down in high temperatures. Alkatuff, on the other hand, is designed specifically to withstand the hot temperatures and harsh weather conditions of Australia and New Zealand. The difference is the kind of comonomer, the molecular building block used to create polymer plastics. While many plastic manufacturers use butane (C4), we use hexane comonomer (C6). The strength of a plastic is largely dependent on the length and spacing of its short chain branches, and C6 produces long branches. This results in a plastic that is tougher, with better impact strength and crack resistance. Alkatuff can stand up to large amounts of UV radiation and high temperatures for the long-term. Water tanks made from Alkatuff will reliably store water for many years. If you’re looking to purchase a water tank, we recommend choosing one made from Alkatuff, and we would be happy to help you find a water tank supplier near you.