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14 Dec 2005  -  United Kingdom

Vinyl ester resins for marine applications

Crystic® vinyl ester resins manufactured by the Scott Bader company have proved to be highly successful for marine applications, including both hull and deck laminates, as well as a skincoat for fibreglass mould making.

Their new Crystic® VE676 formulation is an epoxy bisphenol A based vinyl ester resin. This has an excellent chemical resistance to a wide range of substances including acids, alkalis and oxidising agents. It is suitable for the fabrication of fibre reinforced composites by current conventional production techniques including contact moulding, filament winding and injection moulding.

The Scott Bader resins are specified for the production of an exciting range of marine submersibles manufactured by Exomos. This highly renowned company is based in Dubai and produces craft for both personal and professional applications. The innovative creator behind the Exomos company is Hervé Jaubert, whose team have combined technology, performance, and creativity with cutting-edge engineering and safety for a range of single and multi person craft that can dive safely to depths of between 18 and 40 metres, taking as many as 22 passengers in their flagship “Proteus” fully-submersible yacht.

Advanced hydrodynamic design principles have been used to reduce functional and form drag for these products, made using Crystic 65PA gelcoat with VE676 vinyl ester laminating resin, reinforced with combination glass matt and carbon fibre; both products play a major part in achieving the high-gloss finishes with low surface resistance required for the moulded body parts.

Hervé Jaubert, Chief Executive Officer for Exomos stated ‘building submarines to standards which exceed certification requirements is a must for Exomos, and in this regard our hulls are built with the highest quality Crystic vinyl ester resins that only Scott Bader is able to provide us.’

A thixotropic DCPD-modified vinyl ester resin – Crystic VE679PA is also available for use as a skincoat in marine applications or for mould making. This also has excellent blister resistance, prevents surface defects in the laminate appearing on the external surface and significantly reduces the occurrence of fibre print-through. It is designed to produce durable mouldings with enhanced surface finishes, and is approved by Lloyd’s Register of Shipping for use in the construction of craft under their survey.

Scott Bader has Vinyl Ester production and blending facilities in their plants in Croatia, Dubai, South Africa, UK and France. A range of VE products are manufactured for chemical pipes and tanks, as well as marine applications, and have also been successfully used as a skincoat for swimming pools.

Source : Scott Bader