thermal insulation with high compressive strength?

[cedric]

hi,

I am a structural/petroleum engineer, and I would like to know if someone could help me with a material engg pb. I'd like to know if any commercial material meets good thermal insulation prop. (similar to PP or PU) and high compressive strength (high pressure 2000m of water). This would be for marine application. if there are no such material available, does anyone know about ongoing research project on this (or related) topic.

Thanks for your help.
Cedric.

 

[EdCollinson]

Have you tried Microtherm at

http://www.microtherm.uk.com.

The thermal conductivity of their material is comparable to PU foam at low temp and the density can be increased to improve compressive strength if needed.

Regards

Ed

 

[Erwin76]

The material that might be the solution to your problem is called syntactic foam. It is a mixture of a resin and hollow microspheres. The material has a density in the range of 0.3-0.8 g/cc, shows high compressive strength and does not absorb water. Depending on the configuration, the material can easily be used up to 10,000 feet under water and it shows excellent thermal insulation properties. That is why it is often used for marine- and offshore applications.

I myself am doing research on syntactic foam so feel free to contact me.

For more info on syntactic foam you might also check

http://www.cumingcorp.com

http://www.crpgroup.co.uk

Regards,
Erwin

wouterson@hotmail.com

 

[PEmrich]

2000m water/10m/atm=200 atm ~3000 psi is this correct?


The syntactic foam route is worth looking into. We make FRP laminates and shapes incorporating glass microspheres. Compressive strengths exceed 15000 psi.

 

[rembrandt]

Cedric, as a specifier myself, for a major Oil company, I have already used Syntactic Epoxy Foam for a sub-sea Insulation problem. I suggest you get hold of the Technical
People from Akzo-Nobel, International Protective Coatings.
They have a specialist Division that manufactures a material specifically for sub-sea Insulating purposes.
Failing that, I suggest you contact Alderley Materials Ltd.
on + 44 (0)1453-511600. (They have a web site, but I cant remember it at the moment.) There are a lot of helpfull people out there, you just have to find them.

Good luck, and Regards,
Rembrandt.