I've used lots of different foams for buoyancy on everything from
surfboards to subs and the most durable and
water resistant by far is the Syntactic, made with a combination of
Micro and Macro spheres in either Epoxy or
Vinylester resin. When used as the core of a composite sandwich, it
extends the overall strength of outer laminates
whether they be fiberglass or steel or ???. Syntactics however must
be molded, injected or poured into place.
Doc
Bob Teufel wrote:
Hi David, Thanks for the input, that is a thought! Have you known anyone to use Syntactic foam or PVC foam as part of building their sub. I have read the archives and the discussion on PVC hulls and can see that steel would seem to be best for strenght vs. cost and availability. But I was wondering if anyone used foam as an additional boyancy enhancer or to for molded parts. One company I saw on the web, Cuming Corporation, http://www.cumingcorp.com/flotation.html , says they have a foam (C-FLOAT) that can withstand 10,000 fsw for years. The only problem is its curing temp is between 300 and 400 degrees F. I don't know if I can work with such a high tech material, and I'm sure they are really eager to provide a low-cost one-time mold, being such a mom-and-pop organization. I love this stuff, I only hope I can control myself enough to do my real job. See Ya! Bob T.----- Original Message -----From: DBACKIDS@aol.comSent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 8:03 PMSubject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] New potential sinkerIt might be possible to use a hemispherical endcap-type and weld it to a cone shape to create a teardrop hull. Just a thought.
DavidC