[PSUBS-MAILIST] Insulation Types That Can Be Used Inside a Sub

This is a subject I've been thinking about for some time now for my live aboard sub ideas as well as for smaller craft. Most insulation choices out there are porous to external air. This means that it can get wet and oh so moldy. Also if you ever flood your sub in any way you'll have allot of work to do. Urethane foam may work well for some designs. I've seen some become old and powdery after a few years but that maybe because of a bad mix and/or UV damage. Urethane foam wouldn't work for me because I want my subs to be able to be used as hyperbaric chambers for both general health benefits at 2 atmospheres as well as for divers with the bends. With this in mind I wouldn't expect urethane foam not to stand up to the internal pressure of the sub(s). If you have a dive boat that is also a submarine that can take care of a divers hyperbaric chamber needs at the dive sight I know it could save lives.

One insulation type with a reasonable R value that is sealed and can compress under hyperbaric pressure, is a foil covered expensive version of bubble wrap called bubble foil insulation. One brand is call Radiant Guard.

http://www.radiantguard.com/BubbleInsulation.html

You can find bubble foil insulation at most large hardware stores. One problem though is that because it will compress under pressure it won't help your buoyancy if your sub starts to flood.

This is why I was thinking syntactic foam may be the answer for all my requirements. From what I understand syntactic foam would not compress under pressure. So if your sub floods it will help in your buoyance as well as keeping it's shape and insulation value if internal pressure is raised. In addition to all that if water and air can't get into the syntactic foam then you won't have the mold problems I mentioned or the need to replace insulation if your sub floods. Now since I have not as yet worked with syntactic foam I would love to hear any bodies thoughts on this that have used it as well as others.

The great merit of society is to make one appreciate solitude.
-- Charles Chincholles

Being alone in your submarine can be a wondrous thing.

Brent Hartwig

From: Recon1st@aol.com
Reply-To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] basic design help
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:59:49 EST

In a message dated 1/10/2007 9:17:18 PM Central Standard Time, ShellyDalg@aol.com writes:

Frank thanks for the responce

Yes, it's cold out there.....Gonna need some rags in your sub to wipe the windows with.

I think some insulation and or a little heat may be in order. Also kinda pleased with

this problem being a diver for 35 yrs I am really tired of that dry air.

Hydraulics are good for control surfaces and many other exterior devices

I also am planning using a Porta power (hand acutated 10 ton Hydraulic

ram) to released drop weights and battery pods if need be. simple rack

with sheer pins system

.

Ambient trolling motors won't go that deep.

I hope you misunderstand my depths. working depth will be 400, max of 500 ft fw

the 1500 ft is minimum crush depth. I know they will be pancakes at that depth

but really want to use multple trolling motors for propulsion and manuevering.

Some of my design will be desinged to be in trouble over 500 ft. This is a saftey

factor I use to curb my urges of "Damn the torpedos full speed ahead"

Electrical thru-hulls can be purchased, or hand built. It's not rocket science. Just good glue.

I like the idea of a floating antenna. Never heard of one before......Good idea

Frank my idea here is to pull a low resistance float with big dive flag on top with the

Gps and radio antennas. I am trying to design an automatic real using the angel of

tow rope to keep it in the appropriate location behind the sub and not interfere with

depth changes as I cruise the bottom. I will post full detail dwgs of device if I get

there.

using any kind of glue to attach something to the outside is not gonna work.

Weld a bracket, and bolt it on.

Good luck in your adventure, and remember to have fun......FRank D.

once again thanks and I can really get going now. Last night installed Solid Works

so my really wild imagination can be released big time.

Dean Ackman (the dreamer wanna sports sedan for a chevy price)