For marine floating structures (e.g., floating bridges), why is closed-cell ratio more important than compressive strength when selecting a sandwich panel core?

During long-term immersion, core water absorption increases weight, reduces buoyancy, and corrodes the facing bond interface. Closed-cell ratio determines water absorption rate: PU closed-cell ratio >95%, one-year water absorption <1%; PET 85–92%, one-year 3–5%; XPS >98%, lowest long-term water absorption (<0.5%). However, XPS has low compressive strength, unsuitable for wave impact loads. Therefore, the optimal choice is high-closed-cell, high-strength PET (closed-cell ratio >93% and compressive strength >1 MPa), or XPS encapsulated with a sealed stainless steel skin. When calculating buoyancy safety factors, a 10% weight increase from core water absorption at end of service life should be considered.

Name *

Email *

Message

Tags:

No tags

For marine floating structures (e.g., floating bridges), why is closed-cell ratio more important than compressive strength when selecting a sandwich panel core?

Get in Touch

Navigation

Product

Contact