The Acitainer Blow Moulded Acid Container

The Acitainer Blow-Moulded Acid Container Harcostar Ltd 

The Acitainer (Acid container), designed and manufactured by Harcostar Ltd, Huntingdon, is a 45 1 (10-gal.) low-density polyethylene (LDPE) container enclosed and protected by a high-density polyethylene (HOPE) outer container. Both inner and outer containers are blow moulded and the combined unit offers a safer alternative to the conventional acid-carrying carboy. 

Harcostar decided to investigate alternative types of acid container which afforded adequate worker protection in addition to other benefits such as lightness, ease of manufacture, chemical resistance, and durability. ICI had a vested interest in a safer acid carboy and collaborated with Harcostar in developing the Acitainer. The development is described below. 

In 1973 ICI were using LDPE acid containers with high carbon black loadings to offer protection against UV attack, i.e. the containers were coloured black. HarcostaPs idea was to put the acid container inside another plastic container. In this way there was no necessity to use carbon black UV stabilizer since the inner container would be enclosed by the outer and, therefore, protected from UV (sunlight). 

Since Harcostar had a ready supply of blow-moulded dustbins (one of their products) these were used as a basis for assessing the feasibility of the concept. Two dustbins were welded together around the rims, then the bases of both bins cut off and used to form the top and bottom push-fit retainers for the inner container. Four rectangular handle slots, spaced evenly around the top outer side of the container, were then made to give a general impression of the finished item. 

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