Boats, composite

One characteristic feature of composites is that they have distinct boundaries between matrix and filler. That is, they are nonhomo-geneous. In this regard, they differ from alloys, materials in which two or more metals are completely mixed with each other, forming a homogeneous combination. In brass, for example, one is unable to distinguish the copper and zinc that make up the alloy, while in a pleasure boat composite, the glass fibers or other fiber fillers can be clearly distinguished from the plastic matrix. 

Advanced composites and fiber-reinforced materials are used in sailcloth, speedboat, and other types of boat components, and leisure and commercial fishing gear. A ram id and polyethylene fibers are currentiy used in conveyer belts to collect valuable offshore minerals such as cobalt, uranium, and manganese. Constmction of oil-adsorbing fences made of high performance fabrics is being evaluated in Japan as well as the constmction of other pollution control textile materials for maritime use. For most marine uses, the textile materials must be resistant to biodeterioration and to a variety of aqueous pollutants and environmental conditions. 

The second largest use at 21% is for unsaturated polyester resins, which are the products of polycondensation reactions between molar equivalents of certain dicarboxyhc acids or thek anhydrides and glycols. One component, usually the diacid or anhydride, must be unsaturated. A vinyl monomer, usually styrene, is a diluent which later serves to fully cross-link the unsaturated portion of the polycondensate when a catalyst, usually a peroxide, is added. The diacids or anhydrides are usually phthahc anhydride, isophthahc acid, and maleic anhydride. Maleic anhydride provides the unsaturated bonds. The exact composition is adjusted to obtain the requked performance. Resins based on phthahc anhydride are used in boat hulls, tubs and spas, constmction, and synthetic marble surfaces. In most cases, the resins contain mineral or glass fibers that provide the requked stmctural strength. The market for the resins tends to be cychcal because products made from them sell far better in good economic times (see Polyesters,unsaturated). 

The hand lay-up or spray-up process, used universally for the production of laminar composites incorporating glass fiber reinforcement, is most efficient for the manufacture of large parts, such as boats, bathtubs, tanks, architectural shapes, and recreational accessories. Resins intended for spray-up processes are usually modified with thixotropic additives, such as fumed siHca (1%), to reduce the risk of drainage when appHed over large vertical mold surfaces. Molds are also made from ERP for short-mn products usually surfaced with a tooling gel coat to provide consistent surface quaHty and appearance. 

Under mechanical and environmental stresses, composites are dimensionally stable. They maintain their shape and functionaHty, a critical requirement in such appHcations as dish antennas, constmction girders, and in appHance and business machines. Color and surface texture can often be molded into an FRP product for long lasting, low maintenance permanent surface appearance. Boats are a good example. The surface color is molded in and requires minimum maintenance, an advantage in saltwater environments. 

Originally developed for tyre cords, Kevlar-type materials have also become widely used in composites. Uses include filament-wound rocket motors and pressure vessels, metal-lined Kevlar-overwrapped vessels in the space shuttle, boat and kayak hulls, Kevlar-epoxy helmets for the US military, and as one of the reinforcements in composite lorry cabs. 

Epoxide resins reinforced with carbon and Aramid fibres have been used in small boats, where it is claimed that products of equal stiffness and more useable space may be produced with a 40% saving in weight over traditional polyester/ glass fibre composites. Aramid fibre-reinforced epoxide resins have been developed in the United States to replace steel helmets for military purposes. Printed circuit board bases also provide a substantial outlet for epoxide resins. One recent survey indicates that over one-quarter of epoxide resin production in Western Europe is used for this application. The laminates also find some use in chermical engineering plant and in tooling. 

A wide range of polyurethane-type products has become available in recent years for coating applications. These include simple solutions of linear polyurethanes, two-pot alkyd-isocyanate and polyether-isocyanate systems and a variety of prepolymer and adduct systems. The coatings can vary considerably in hardness and flexibility and find use mainly because of their toughness, abrasion resistance and flexibility. Uses include metal finishes in chemical plant, wood finishes for boats and sports equipment, finishes for rubber goods and rain-erosion-resistant coatings for aircraft. One type of coating is potentially competitive with PVC leathercloth. Both alkyd-di-isocyanate and adduct-diisocyanate compositions may be coated on to fabrics from solutions of controlled viscosity and solids content. Such coated fabrics are soft, flexible and, unlike PVC leathercloth, free from plasticisers. 

Synthetic resins are extensively used, e.g., in surface finishes, in the fabrication and repair of boat and motor vehicle bodies, in the manufacture of laminated boards, for electrical components, in pattern making and in paints and varnishes. Non-rubber adhesives made from fish glues and from cotton derivatives (e.g. cellulose acetate) tend not to be sensitizing but, depending upon composition and the manner of use, many other types may pose significant dermatitic and fume hazards. 

The reduction of 1 l-keto-9 -H steroids gives an lla-ol, due to the fact that ring B or C must be in the boat form. The presence of bromine at the 2a-, 5a- and 12a-positions does not afifect greatly the isomer composition resulting from reduction of 3-, 6- and 11-ketones respectively. When in a 7-keto steroid the bromine is in the 6a-position a mixture of la- and 7 -ols results when the bromine is in the 6 -position only the 7jS-hydroxy compound is obtained. " The presence of bromine in the 16a- or 16 -positions seems to reduce the amount of 17 -alcohol formed. ... 

In Bridgman growth [155], a boat or vessel filled with the melt is slowly cooled from one side, so that the crystal forms from that side. In Czochralski growth [156,157] a cylindrical crystal sits on the surface of the melt and is slowly pulled upward. In both cases the hydrodynamical flow of the melt is an important factor in the chemical composition and fine structure of the resulting crystal. 

The primary UPR end markets are construction, automotive, and marine industries widi applications such as house paneling, tub and shower applications, chemical-resistant storage tanks, pultruded profiles, and fiberglass composite boat hulls. The UPR industry is mature, with a world production close to 1.7 million tons (Table 2.2), but must face two important issues increasingly strict regulations for styrene emissions and poor recycling potential for polyester thermosets.48 49... 

Kevlar fibers are supplied by DuPont as Kevlar-29 and 49. The former is characterized by high tensile strength and the latter by high initial modulus(4). Some Kevlar-29 end uses are in ropes and cables, which are as strong as steel at one-fifth the weight, and in ballistic vests. Some Kevlar-49 end uses are in reinforcing resins and composites for aerospace structures, boat hulls, and sport equipments. 

Boatbuilders who use composites have, at most, just one more year before they have to reduce emissions to meet National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESH AP), also known as Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards. By 23rd Aug. 2004, most boat manufacturing facilities subject to NESHAP must comply with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 63, Subpart VVW. The deadline applies to existing boat manufacturing facilities that are major sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Existing sources are those that commenced construction on or before July 14, 2000. ( New sources , those that commenced construction after this date, must comply with emission limits at startup.) Major sources are facilities that have the potential to... 

Finally, glass-reinforced unsaturated polyesters are well known as building materials for boats, yachts and cars and generally termed fibre-glass resin . The preparation, properties and applications of these unsaturated polyesters are summarized in Chapter 21, while the chemistry and properties of a new unsaturated polyester resin for fibre-reinforced composite materials are discussed in Chapter 22. 

Exhaustive catalytic hydrogenation of triptycene affords an equilibrium mixture of perhydrotriptycene isomers. As expected, Boyd s force field (37) calculations, with a modified torsional constant, reproduced the observed composition fairly well (Table 6). All important conformations were taken into account for each isomer. The most stable conformations agree with the results of the X-ray analysis (131) and have the characteristic that the cyclohexane rings are invariably either boat or deformed chair. The most stable conformation of all is 20 (ttt). The predominant conformation of ccc, in which all cyclohexane rings are boat, has an enthalpy only 2.56 kcal/mol above that of 20. The difference is virtually all due to angle and torsional terms. 

For the high-performance or sandwich composites, repairs, when they are possible, are always much more delicate. However, race boats are currently repaired after damage. 

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