Precision Acoustics Ltd

Precision Acoustics offers a product range of Aptflex syntactic foams for use in such areas as transducer construction, structural buoyancy modules and thermal insulation cladding. The products are a glass sphere syntactic foam using a high performance epoxy resin as the polymeric binder. We have a range of materials to provide uplift and bouyancy to ROV's operating  in an underwater enviroment

The Aptflex syntactic foams can be supplied in sheet form, moulded products or as a 2 part "liquid" kit for casting. This gives the end user the option of casting detailed shapes without subsequent and costly machining.

The cured products are hard, tough, have low specific gravity and exhibit a high hydrostatic compressive strength and excellent chemical resistance.  The material is non conducting and is therefore suited to encapsulating electronics which are to be used at depth.

We hold in stock three grades of syntactic foam which is available as a 2 part mix  to give the best perfomance/cost ratio. The material is normally supplied in 1kg kits but larger quantities  and different bouyancy / uplift properties are available on request.

For material in sheet form or as a pre molded shape;please contact us with required dimensions and we will supply a quotation.

Typical applications / calculations

Syntactic foams are commonly used as floats to provide additional buoyancy.  The following example shows how syntactic foam floats may be specified.

A float is required to achieve 500 kg buoyancy at a working depth of 100m. The table below shows that F40 has a working depth of at least 500m so this will be the most cost effective solution. The mean density of F40 is 670 kg/m^3, and the density of sea water is approximately 1025 kg/m^3. Therefore density difference is (1025 – 670) = 355 kg/m^3. The float must therefore have a volume of 500/355 = 1.408 m^3 to achieve 500 kg of upthrust (buoyancy)