More and more ship manufacturers are using sandwich structures in their load-bearing structures, using a sandwich structure of resin, fiber and core materials to build a boat, such as fishing boats, yachts, racing boats, sailing boats, etc. How to make the hull lightweight, one of the most important points is how to choose the appropriate filling core material.
PVC Foam – Essential for Vacuum Infusion in Shipbuilding
Boat foam core material requires a lightweight, high-strength, water-resistant sandwich material to provide the structural strength and buoyancy needed for the hull. Among them, PVC foam is the leader, and its series of advantages make it the most popular core material for boats.
- Lightweight: PVC foam core is extremely lightweight, making the overall hull lighter and helping to improve the boat’s buoyancy and fuel efficiency.
- Higher Hardness: PVC foam core provides good structural strength, allowing the hull to have sufficient stability and durability while remaining lightweight.
- Water Resistance: PVC foam core has good water resistance and has extremely low water absorption even in humid marine environments.
- Ease of Processing: PVC foam core is easy to process and can be cut and formed according to the shape and needs of the hull to adapt to various ship designs.
Physical Properties
| ITEM | P60 | P80 | P100 | P130 | P200 |
| Density(kg/m³) | 60 | 80 | 100 | 130 | 200 |
| Tensi le Strength(Mpa) | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 7.1 |
| Tensi 1e Modulus (Mpa) | 75 | 95 | 130 | 175 | 250 |
| Compressive Strength(Mpa) | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2 | 3 | 4.8 |
| Compressive Modulus (Mpa) | 72 | 90 | 135 | 170 | 240 |
| Shear Strength(Mpa) | 0.76 | 1.15 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 3.5 |
Foam Core Processing – Perforations and Grooves
To avoid air being trapped between the core and laminate, small perforations or grooves are often added symmetrically to the core. In order for the foam core to better conform to the contours of the hull, deeper grooves are cut into its surface.
