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

I remember seeing that link for Flotation Technologies, Inc. at one time and it's a good one, thanks. As for the cost of syntactic foam I'm sure it varies widely. I'll have to ask Doc what he paid for his or if he got it through a sponsorship deal to promote there product. If you have a interesting sub project you might get it for free if you put there logo on your sub.

Besides the machineable syntactic foam, there is a mixable type that will fit any shape you need and can be placed in a mold. Karl Stanley's Idabel appears to me that it was done this way. When you mix your own foam, you may not be able to get as high of a density of micro balloons as you would get if it was made mixed by the manufacturers machines.

Does anyone here know what brand and type of foam Karl Stanley used on Idabel??? Here's a pic of them mixing some up for Idabel.

http://stansub.fotki.com/the_submarine-1/the_submarine_under/syntatic_foam.html

http://stansub.fotki.com/the_submarine-1/the_submarine_under/mixing_foam.html

It looks to me like Karl applied the foam right on to the painted hull. That seems to me like it would make checking and repainting the outer hull impossible. If the metal of the hull expands and contracts differently then the foam, will the foam pop off some paint? He later covered the foam with fiberglass. Looks very nice.

I was thinking I would fill fiberglass, carbon fiber, kevlar, or stainless steel containers made into the various shapes I needed for the exterior of the sub and then bolt them on.

"Everything which is wished and can be imagined - can be achieved.

The optimist at heart, but not deprived feelings of a reality. "

Brent Hartwig

From:  "Øystein Skarholm" <skarholm@gmail.com>
Reply-To:  personal_submersibles@psubs.org
To:  personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject:  Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Insulation Types That Can Be Used Inside a Sub
Date:  Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:49:14 +0100

I havent red all of the articles regarding this topic, But if you are looking for buoyancy than withstand pressure, here is a link.

http://www.flotec.com/flo10.html

On 1/17/07, ShellyDalg@aol.com <ShellyDalg@aol.com> wrote:

Ha Ha. You might look like a halibut. The syntactic foam sounds good. I know it's been used before on subs.

I have no experience with it, but I wonder if you could make/get some in a block shape, and cut it to fit.

Is it expensive?

Some types of foam, including styrofoam, give off toxic chemicals and/or fumes.

I think pretty much everything gives off something bad when it burns.

I like the idea of a floating teddy bear though. Specially with blinking eyes!

I look forward to researching the links you posted when I get a little more time.

Frank D.

--
Vennlig hilsen
Øystein Skarholm