RINA is the Italian ship classification society.
Laminate test pieces bonded with Crystic Crestomer 1196PA underwent a flatwise tensile test (to ASTM D 1623) and a sandwich shear test (to ASTM C 273). The RINA strength requirements were satisfied, even after the test pieces had undergone two cycles of laboratory ageing under the demanding ASTM D 1183 Type 'D' test conditions; each ageing cycle takes a week to complete, during which the bonded test pieces are exposed to extremes of temperature from +71°C to -57°C, different humidity conditions and prolonged periods immersed in salt water.
“It was a very tough test programme; gaining RINA approval for 1196PA provides FRP boat builders with further assurance of the high quality and guaranteed performance characteristics of Crestomers for marine structural bonding,” says Giuseppe Dell’Anno, the R & D Applications Engineer at Scott Bader who led the RINA test project.
Crestomer 1196PA and rest of the Crestomer range also has Lloyds approval, and most grades also have DNV Class 1 approval.