Machinable UV Stabilzed Plastic for Marine Application

[Nick Greeno]

Hello!

I'm trying to find a suitable plastic to machine a shroud which will be used on a towed craft, fully submerged in sea water. I've been looking at marine HDPE, aka Starboard/Seaboard/Kingboard, but can't find anything in the thickness I require: 1.5"

I have seen some places reccomend UHMW for dock fenders but the senior engineer doesn't think that will be a suitable material. Does anyone here have experience with UHMW? Or can reccomend another suitable material?

Thanks!

 

[btrueblood]

I don't know why UHMW wouldn't work, unless it wasn't strong enough or stiff enough for the application, it certainly isn't going to be affected by being submerged in seawater. Does it need to survive exposure to UV radiation over many years? 1.5" thickness by what - McMaster Carr carries that thickness in up to 48" x 96" sizes.

 

[Compositepro]

A shroud? That sounds like something that should be made out of fiberglass.