Stainless Steel: Offers excellent resistance to corrosion from acidic coolants (e.g., those with high metal ion content), making it ideal for industrial settings with aggressive fluids. Its passive oxide layer prevents rust, ensuring long-term integrity in harsh environments like automotive manufacturing or chemical processing.

Plastics (HDPE/PP): Non-metallic materials like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP) are inherently resistant to most coolants, including glycol-based antifreeze. They are lightweight, cost-effective, and suitable for non-pressurized systems in data centers or food processing, where contamination risks must be minimized. However, they may degrade under prolonged UV exposure or high temperatures.

Aluminum: While lightweight and conductive, aluminum is prone to corrosion when in contact with alkaline coolants. It requires protective coatings or anodizing in automotive radiators or aerospace applications to prevent electrolytic reactions with other metals in the cooling system.

Stainless Steel: Maintains structural stability across a wide temperature range (–20°C to 400°C), making it suitable for high-heat environments like power plants or heavy machinery. Its low thermal expansion coefficient reduces the risk of warping or leaks during extreme temperature fluctuations.

Engineering Plastics (PVC/ABS): Materials like PVC or ABS offer moderate heat resistance (up to 60–80°C) and are commonly used in low-temperature applications, such as residential heating systems or small CNC machines. However, prolonged exposure to high heat (e.g., above 100°C) can cause melting or brittleness, limiting their use in high-performance systems.

Carbon Steel: Though strong, carbon steel lacks corrosion resistance and may rust in wet environments. It is rarely used for coolant tanks unless coated with epoxy or other protective layers, typically in large industrial setups where cost is a priority over long-term maintenance.

Stainless Steel: With high tensile strength, stainless steel tanks can withstand high-pressure cooling systems (e.g., in diesel engines or industrial boilers), reducing the risk of bursting. Their rigidity also minimizes deformation from external impacts or vacuum conditions.

Composite Materials: Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks combine corrosion resistance with moderate structural strength, suitable for medium-pressure applications like commercial HVAC systems. However, they may crack under sudden pressure surges or heavy mechanical loads.

Rubber-Lined Metals: Tanks with rubber or elastomer linings (e.g., neoprene) offer flexibility and chemical resistance, making them useful for systems with frequent thermal cycling or abrasive coolant particles, such as mining equipment.