# US 2014/0197175 A1 · Automobile fuel tank

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- Number: US 2014/0197175 A1
- Document ID: US20140197175A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/238,446
- Filed: 2012-12-25
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-25
- Assignees: Fts Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: FTS Co.,Ltd
- Inventors: Ryuta Aoe; Hiroyuki Tanaka; Kazuaki Naito; Hisamitsu Kato; Hisayuki Iwai; Yoshiro Umemoto; Katsuhiro Kajikawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197175A1

## CPC

- B32B 27/306: {comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers}
- B32B 1/00: Layered products having a non-planar shape
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/308: {comprising acrylic (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)}
- B60K 15/03177: {made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material (B60K15/03006 takes precedence)}
- C08L 23/06: Polyethylene
- B32B 2250/05: 5 or more layers
- B32B 2250/246: All polymers belonging to those covered by groups B32B27/32 and B32B27/30
- B32B 2270/00: Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers
- B32B 2272/00: Resin or rubber layer comprising scrap, waste or recycling material
- B32B 2307/3065: Flame resistant or retardant, fire resistant or retardant
- B32B 2307/538: Roughness
- B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength
- B32B 2307/558: Impact strength, toughness
- B32B 2307/72: Density
- B32B 2307/7265: Non-permeable
- B32B 2307/734: Dimensional stability
- B32B 2307/738: Thermoformability
- B32B 2605/08: Cars
- B60K 2015/03046: {made from more than one layer}
- C08F 110/02: Ethene
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS

## Abstract

{Problem} To provide a fuel tank with excellent blow moldability, high deformation-suppressing properties and high heat resistance. {Solution} In an automobile fuel tank, a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) of an outer body layer 12 and an inner body layer 16 of an outer wall 10 has the following physical properties: 1) a modulus of elasticity of 1100 to 1400 MPa at 23° C.; 2) a modulus of elasticity of 340 to 430 MPa at 65° C.; 3) a modulus of elasticity of 400 to 510 MPa at 23° C. after being immersed in Fuel D for 200 hours at 65° C.; 4) a Charpy impact strength of 7 to 14 kJ/m2 at −40° C.; 5) a full-notch creep test (FNCT) result of 50 to 300 hours at 80° C.; 6) a melt flow rate (MFR) result of 4 to 6 (g/10 minutes) at 190° C. and a load of 21.6 kg; and 7) a melt tension of 18 to 25 g when a sample that has been melted at 210° C. is extruded from a nozzle with a diameter of 2.095 mm and a length of 8 mm at an extrusion rate of 15 mm/minute, and drawn at a take-up speed of 7.5 m/minute.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automobile fuel tank having an outer wall composed of a main body of a multiple-layered synthetic resin, wherein
said outer wall includes at least an outer body layer, an outer adhesive layer, a barrier layer, an inner adhesive layer, and an inner body layer, said outer body layer and said inner body layer are formed of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) as a main ingredient, which has physical properties:
(1) a modulus of elasticity of 1100 to 1400 MPa at 23° C.;
(2) a modulus of elasticity of 340 to 430 MPa at 65° C.;
(3) a modulus of elasticity of 400 to 510 MPa at 23° C. after being immersed in Fuel D for 200 hours at 65° C.;
(4) a Charpy impact strength of 7 to 14 kJ/m2 at −40° C.;
(5) a full-notch creep test (FNCT) result of 50 to 300 hours at 80° C.;
(6) a melt flow rate (MFR) result of 4 to 6 (g/10 minutes) at 190° C. and a load of 21.6 kg; and
(7) a melt tension of 18 to 25 g when a sample that has been melted at 210° C. is extruded from a nozzle with a diameter of 2.095 mm and a length of 8 mm at an extrusion rate of 15 mm/min, and drawn at a take-up speed of 7.5 m/minute, and
each of said outer adhesive layer and said inner adhesive layer is composed of a synthetic resin having adhesiveness against both said high density polyethylene (HDPE) and said barrier layer, and
said barrier layer is composed of a synthetic resin through which fuel oil is hard to permeate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer wall has a skin layer formed of said high-density polyethylene (HDPE) on an exterior side of said outer body layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein an entire thickness of said outer wall of said fuel tank ranges from 3.0 to 5.0 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said barrier layer is formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer body layer contains one of a modified polyethylene and a soft polyethylene.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body of said fuel tank is formed by blow molding.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein an entire thickness of said outer wall of said fuel tank ranges from 3.0 to 5.0 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein said barrier layer is formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH).

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 3, wherein said barrier layer is formed of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH).

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outer body layer contains one of a modified polyethylene and a soft polyethylene.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 3, wherein said outer body layer contains one of a modified polyethylene and a soft polyethylene.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer body layer contains one of a modified polyethylene and a soft polyethylene.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 2, wherein said main body of said fuel tank is formed by blow molding.

### Claim 14 (depends on 3)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 3, wherein said main body of said fuel tank is formed by blow molding.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 4, wherein said main body of said fuel tank is formed by blow molding.

### Claim 16 (depends on 5)

The automobile fuel tank as claimed in claim 5, wherein said main body of said fuel tank is formed by blow molding.