UK firm introduces self-sealing fuel tank technology

Gloucester, UK – Permali Gloucester Ltd has been licenced by the US-based High Impact Technology LLC (HIT) to apply a self-sealing fuel tank technology called BattleJacket within the UK and France.

The technology is already being used in the US.

Describing the BattleJacket fuel cell containment system (FCCS) as “revolutionary technology”, Stu Olden sales manager for land systems at Permali, a UK-based composite and polymer technology company.

The system, according to Permali, involves an elastomeric coating spray on, which can be applied to both metallic and plastics surfaces and is based on a fire resistant urethane modified for military applications.

“Special super absorbent polymer beads are used as the basis of the self-sealing mechanism, which are sprayed into the middle layer during the application process.

“These beads swell into a solid when exposed to fuel, acting in conjunction with the top and bottom urethane layers to tightly seal the entrance and exit holes created by a projectile,” Olden added.

The technology is designed to minimise or prevent leakage from fuel tanks when subjected to small-arms fire.

Stating that the BattleJacket has been operationally proven, Olden said that a fuel tanker, in operation, had over 600 rounds shot into it without any loss of fuel or function.