Foam core materials are closed-cell or semi-closed-cell structural foams, while honeycomb cores consist of hexagonal cell structures made from aluminum, aramid paper, or polypropylene.
Foam cores generally provide:
- Better water resistance
- Easier processing
- More uniform mechanical properties
- Better impact tolerance
Honeycomb cores generally offer:
- Higher stiffness-to-weight ratio
- Better fire resistance in some cases
- Extremely lightweight structures
- Excellent flatness and dimensional stability
Foam cores are commonly used in hulls and decks, while honeycomb cores are widely used in marine interiors, ceilings, partitions, and fire-rated structures.
