Cross-linked PVC foam (e.g., Airex® type) can have water absorption controlled below 4% (7-day immersion), but ordinary non-crosslinked PVC can exceed 20%. In ship hull structures, long-term immersion can increase core weight and reduce shear strength. However, PVC foam core sandwich panels used in modern shipbuilding typically employ closed-cell PVC (e.g., Heron®) with a fiberglass sealing layer. A key design feature is “edge sealing” – applying hydrophobic sealant to cut edges to prevent moisture ingress along the core edge. A better solution is using PET foam or thermoplastic hybrid cores with water absorption <1.5%. However, for non-continuously immersed areas like small yacht decks, high-density PVC (100 kg/m³) remains widely used due to its ease of processing and compatibility with unsaturated polyester resin.
PVC foam has high water absorption; is it suitable for marine sandwich panels?
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- PU Foam Core
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- PP Honeycomb Core
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- XPS Backer Board
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- FRP PET Sandwich Panel
- FRP PVC Sandwich Panel
- FRP PP Honeycomb Panel
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