APPLICATIONS

Superyacht tender puts fire safety first

SPECIALISING IN the supply of custom and semi-custom tenders to superyachts, UK company Superyacht Tenders produces a range of vessels that focus on fire protection, functionality and performance. SP, the marine business of Gurit, provided the composite materials to help create a new Lloyds tested superyacht tender compliant with the requirements of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Working in partnership with SP, the team at Superyacht Tenders manufactured the hull using a combination of engineering materials which included SPs ST70FR and Ampreg 21 epoxy wet laminating system, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) core, and glass reinforcements. ST70FR, a re retardant hot melt SPRINT, is ideally suited to the manufacture of laminates requiring re protection. SPRINT materials consist of a layer of bre reinforcement either side of a precast, precatalysed resin lm, with a light tack lm on one face. ST70FR is reported to be capable of producing high quality, low void-content components from a low cost vacuum bag/oven curing process. It was selected as being the most re retardant of SPs structural epoxy systems with the most external re testing certication. The SPRINT format has low smoke toxicity, is self extinguishing and halogen-free. To achieve Lloyds and MCA compliance the craft had to successfully withstand a series of demanding tests, including re testing, being swung against a dock, drop tested from 3 m, and swamp tested. The handling and processing qualities of ST70FR made it ideal for the manufacture of the MCA Compliant Superyacht tender, while using Ampreg 21 delivered signicant benets in our production with reduced build times and good health & safety characteristics, says Paul Jennings, MD of Superyacht Tenders Ltd. Superyacht Tenders Ltd; http://superyachttenders.com SP; www.gurit.com/marine

Cured in place pipe lining system

A CURED in place composite pipe lining system (CIPP) has been used for a major sewer repair project in Reno, Nevada, USA. The project was carried out by pipelining specialist Pipenology Inc and involved lining a total 7.7 km of 20-183 cm diameter sewer pipes both in the busy downtown and rural areas of Reno. With the CIPP process the repairs were carried out via existing manhole access points. This approach was not only faster than more traditional pipe lining methods but also eliminated disruptive and potentially damaging excavation work. CIPP technology repairs ageing or damaged pipelines by constructing a new liner inside the existing host pipe. In the case of the Reno project liner construction began with a special felt tube of predetermined dimensions and length. The felt was impregnated AOCs Vipel corrosion-resistant resin and then inserted into the pipe via existing manholes in order to eliminate or minimise the need for excavation. Pressurised water was then introduced into the resin-impregnated tube to invert it and move it along and against the sides of the host pipe. When the entire length of tube was turned inside out, the water used during the insertion was heated to cure the resin. Pipenology Inc; www.pipenologyinc.com AOC; ww.aoc-resins.com

Superyacht Tenders craft is MCA compliant.

www.reinforcedplastics.com

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2009

REINFORCEDplastics