Chemicals

Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance (ESCR) is the ability of a plastic to remain crack-free under simultaneous mechanical stress and exposure to aggressive media. The classic failure mode: a PE container handles acids in a storage test without issue — but cracks within months under load stress plus acid contact. This effect is often overlooked when vetting materials for standard chemical containers.

Rotogal works with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and specifically formulated HDPE grades tested per DIN EN ISO 22088, typically reaching ESCR values > 1,000 h. For your specific media combination we verify — in coordination with our material supplier — whether a standard formulation suffices or a dedicated variant makes more sense. That saves expensive consequential damage from leaks.

In practice: a Rotogal chemical container holds not only statically against the medium, but also under dynamic load with vibration, temperature cycles and mechanical stress. For outdoor storage with wind load, forklift traffic and day/night temperature swings, that is decisive.

The German ordinance on facilities handling water-hazardous substances (AwSV) requires retention systems for storage and filling plants that safely capture leaking media in the event of a release. Base rule: retention volume must at least equal the volume of the largest single container — for water hazard class WGK 3, often plus safety margin.

Our rotationally moulded spill tray 1,235 × 1,035 × 230 mm offers 235 litres of containment — enough for one 200-l standard drum plus a 17.5 % reserve. The PE construction is chemically more broadly resistant than steel trays with epoxy coating (which are vulnerable at edges) and is easy to clean if a spill does occur.

For larger containers or multi-storage positions we design custom tray geometries up to pallet dimensions. Double-wall construction, integrated leak indicators and drain valves can be designed directly into the part for custom projects — without welds and therefore without additional tightness risk points.

The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) governs chemical transport in national and international traffic. For hazard classes 3 (flammable liquids), 6.1 (toxic substances), 8 (corrosive substances) and 9 (miscellaneous dangerous substances), plastic IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers) as 31H1/31H2-approved designs are possible once they have passed the corresponding type tests.

Rotogal containers are supplied by default as process and transport vessels without ADR approval. For projects with dangerous-goods transport requirements we deliver certified designs on request in cooperation with accredited type-approval bodies — tuned to the specific UN number and packing group depending on medium and transport route.

For on-site transport within a plant (outside the ADR scope), our standard containers are usually directly usable. That applies to in-plant intermediate storage, filling, dosing and sampling — all applications where robust, chemically resistant PE designs clearly outperform the classic stainless steel vessel.