Marine plastic fabrication, for marine-related purposes doesn’t need to be anything more than waterproof, right? Not exactly. Marine plastic has to be manufactured with some special considerations in mind beyond just shrugging off moisture. Most plastics are waterproof anyway, so this is rarely a particular need.
What is marine plastic?
Marine plastic is plastic that has been developed with ocean activity in mind. Seawater contains roughly 35g of dissolved salt per litre and being out at sea means constant exposure to UV. Special high and medium-density polyethylene, known as ‘marine grade’, is treated with processes that help to better protect it from these elements.
Marine plastics are also high strength and flexible, which helps to prevent cracking and means that objects made from them tend to bounce from impacts rather than shatter and break. This is especially useful for the hulls of fast-travelling boats.
Additionally, marine HDPEs are often designed to have textured surfaces for extra grip and to give them antiskid properties that make them invaluable for steps and walkways that will frequently get wet.
But what else can marine plastic fabrication be used for?
Plastic marine fuel tanks
Fuel tanks made from plastic need to be sturdy, resistant to damage and impacts, and impervious to water corrosion so that fuel doesn’t escape and leak into the water.
High and medium-density polyethylene is used to create these tanks. Rotomoulding is often used to create the hollow tanks with uniform thickness and a tough wall that doesn’t encroach too much on the tank’s fuel capacity.
Creating fuel tanks from marine plastics means they are lightweight yet tough, without carrying the issues that can plague metal. Saltwater corrosion can cause an aggressive degree of rusting and breakdown in metals, much faster than in other environments due to the salt in seawater and the high humidity of the sea air.
Marine plastic fabrication methods
Fabricating marine plastic depends on the needs of the part being created from the plastic. Pieces like aforementioned fuel tanks will likely be moulded with a method like rotomoulding, whereas other parts may be CNC machined or thermoformed.
Working with marine grade polyethylene ensures that parts are fit and ready for marine applications with minimal risk of breakage and wear.
Plastic fabrication with GA Profiplast
Our ability to work with a wide range of plastics makes us the ideal service provider for your parts, whether you need marine plastic fabrication or something totally different.
To find out more about our range of plastic fabrication services, contact us today.
