Chemicals company Hexion has made the roof section of the world’s first catamaran with a totally carbon exterior, made using the company’s vacuum infusion technology and epoxy resin systems.
‘We needed a resin system that both meets the mechanical requirements of the vessel and can be used in exothermic terms, since the core of the process is temperature sensitive,’ said Daniel Driemeier, head of marketing of boat manufacturer DD-Compound. ‘The process is absolutely revolutionary for the marine composites market, as both the hull and the deck of the catamaran, including two new, extremely light core materials (3D|Core and DD-Compound Beams), are each infused in one shot.’
The two companies reportedly developed a new approach that enabled the transition from classical hand laminating to vacuum infusion. During the construction of the hull and deck of the full-carbon catamaran, a Hexion resin system consisting of EPIKOTE MGS Resin RIMR 426 and EPIKURE MGS Curing Agent RIMH 037 was used for infusion. Another system was used for adhesion. Using Hexion’s MTI vacuum infusion, it was possible to ensure that all fibers and core materials were impregnated without problems in a variety of layers.
The new core material and the Hexion resin system, in combination with the infusion process, could enable DD-Compound to achieve weight reduction of up to 30% with better strength in the finished vessel, the companies say.
This story is reprinted from material from Hexion, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
