Thermoplastic composite hulls and decks from Hunter Marine

APPLICATI@$@ Thermoplastic

composite hulls and decks from Hunter Marine

ANOTHER answer to the problem of styrene emissions in production sailboat manufacture has been adopted for the latest market offerings from Hunter Marine Corp, Florida, USA. Hunter extols the Advance Composire Process (ACP), licensed from Advance USA, East Haddam, Conneticut, USA, and used for the hulls

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and decks of new models launched jointly with JY Sailboats, East Lyme, Conneticut. A 5.2 m day sailor, the Hunter 170, is the most recent thermoplastic composite vessels to be introduced - to be followed shortly by the 6.4 m Hunter 210. The ACP is said to produce a unique hull and deck construction. It is a multilayer composite com-

prising an outer layer of unpainted, white, weatherresistant Luran@ S acrylonitrilel styrene/acryIate (ASA) high performance thermoplastic, backed by by a layer ofABS plastic, a flotation layer of rigid urethane foam, and a rigid inner layer of urethane-impregnated glass fibre cloth. Luran S, from BASF Plastics, is said to have impressive impact resis-

PPG’SS&.Wns3 Service AdvantagC- seventeen discrete, respected services within three categories. Training, with factory, classroom, and consulting programs for working smarter, more productively, and more profitably.Technology, to enhance processing efficiency,product quality, and market strength. Commerce, to improve the accuracy of planning and lower the costs of shipping and inventory. The services complement art support PPG’sfulI line of thermoset reinforcements and Performance a thermoplastic reinforcements. All for competitive advantage: YOURS.

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tance which is maintained at low temperatures and after prolonged outdoor exposure. Hunter says that the resulting hulls have an impact resistance about five rimes greater than similarsized fibreglass hulls, and uniform rigidity. Luran does not chalk in outdoor conditions and has high colour stability and fade resistance. It also resists a range of chemicals and has high environmental stress crack resistance. ACP is an emissionsfree thermoforming process. David Eyck, president of JY Sailboats, says the company’s plant complies with the 1996 Clean Air Act, which restricts traditional fibreglass manufacturing by placing a severe limit on styrene emissions. The material provides a high laminate consistenfree of voids, and ;ygh manufacturing repeatability. JY Sailboats thermoforms the hulls and decks from co-extruded ASAI ABS sheet made by Spartech Plastics Inc and incorporating Luran S797 SE UV Hunter is already marketing two smaller craft produced by JY Sailboats using the same process. The Hunter 90 and Hunter 140 - first introduced by JY Sailboats two years ago as the JY9 and JY14. Under the joint venture with JY, Hunter will market and distribute a line of 2.7-6.4 m sailboats made by JY using the ACI? Dan/et& Hunter Marine Corp.

3077;

tel:

+ l-904-642-

David

Eych,

Sailboats; tek + l-860-739

3033. CIRCLE

Reinforced Plastics April 1998

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