Permeation barrier fuel tank

Abstract

A permeation barrier fuel tank for a vehicle includes a tank shell having a wall formed from a plurality of layers. The layers include at least an inner layer, an outer layer, a fuel permeation barrier layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer and a nanocomposite outer layer disposed adjacent to the outer layer.

1 . A permeation barrier fuel tank for a vehicle comprising: 
 a tank shell having a wall formed from a plurality of layers;    said layers comprising at least an inner layer, an outer layer, a fuel permeation barrier layer disposed between said inner layer and said outer layer, and a nanocomposite outer layer disposed adjacent to said outer layer.    
     
     
         2 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 1    wherein said nanocomposite outer layer is made of a nanocomposite polymer.  
     
     
         3 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 1    wherein said inner layer and said outer layer are made of a polyethylene material.  
     
     
         4 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 2    wherein said nanocomposite polymer comprises a polymer material including a predetermined amount of a platy filler material.  
     
     
         5 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 4    wherein said platy filler material is uniformly dispersed in said polymer material.  
     
     
         6 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 4    wherein said platy filler material is present in an amount from about 0 wt. % to about 15 wt. %.  
     
     
         7 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 4    wherein said platy filler material has an aspect ratio from about 200 to about 1000.  
     
     
         8 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 1    wherein said nanocomposite outer layer has a thickness of about fifteen percent of a total thickness of said layers.  
     
     
         9 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 1    wherein said fuel permeation barrier layer is made of either one of a polyamide or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.  
     
     
         10 . A permeation barrier fuel tank for a vehicle comprising: 
 a tank shell having a wall formed from a plurality of layers;    said layers comprising at least an inner layer and an outer layer;    a fuel permeation barrier layer disposed between said inner layer and said outer layer; and    a nanocomposite outer layer disposed adjacent to said outer layer and being made of a nanocomposite polymer.    
     
     
         11 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 10    wherein said inner layer and said outer layer are made of a polyethylene material.  
     
     
         12 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 10    wherein said nanocomposite polymer comprises a polymer material including a predetermined amount of a platy filler material.  
     
     
         13 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 12    wherein said platy filler material is uniformly dispersed in said polymer material.  
     
     
         14 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 12    wherein said platy filler material is present in an amount from about 0 wt. % to about 15 wt. %.  
     
     
         15 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 12    wherein said platy filler material has an aspect ratio from about 200 to about 1000.  
     
     
         16 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 10    wherein said nanocomposite outer layer has a thickness of about fifteen percent of a total thickness of said layers.  
     
     
         17 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 10    wherein said inner layer and said outer layer are made of a high density polyethylene.  
     
     
         18 . A permeation barrier fuel tank as set forth in    claim 10    wherein said fuel permeation barrier layer is made of either one of a polyamide or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.  
     
     
         19 . A fuel tank for a vehicle comprising: 
 a tank shell having a wail formed from a plurality of layers;    said layers comprising at least an inner layer and an outer layer comprising a polyethylene material;    a fuel permeation barrier layer disposed between said inner layer and said outer layer; and    a nanocomposite outer layer disposed adjacent to said outer layer and being made of a nanocomposite polymer comprising a polymer material including a predetermined amount of a platy filler material having a thickness of about one nanometer.