Marine
In the harsh marine environment, adhesives and sealants need to withstand strong UV radiation, humidity, fresh water, and salt water. It is also essential to durably and securely seal add-on components on a ship’s deck and hull, as well as in the interior, as poor workmanship can lead to corrosion, leakage and damage of the GRP laminate.
At H.B. Fuller, we offer optimal product solutions in ship and boat building. Our complete line of marine adhesives and sealants has been specially developed to fulfill all needs during production and to provide long-term stability in the final product in a broad set of applications, including:
- Deck Systems
- Interior Bonding and Sealing
- Cabin Construction (structural)
- Vessel Construction (structural)
- Exterior Sealing
- Below-Water Sealing
- Glass Bonding
- Inflatable Boats
- Sound Damping
- Marine Electronics and Speakers
- Weld Mount (Adhesively-bonded Fastener Systems)
When it comes to adhesive technology for marine applications, there is no substitute for Weld Mount adhesively-bonded fastener system. The revolutionary, unique system is designed to remove the need for mechanical fasteners, fixtures, tapping, welding or drilling.
The chemists at H.B. Fuller have years of experience in formulating adhesives and sealants for the marine industry and specialize in the development of custom formulations to meet your specific needs.
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Deck BondingDecks made from real wood like teak, PVC or polyurethane are increasingly popular both on private boats and on cruise ships. They are installed not only for optical reasons, but also to ensure that the deck is slip-resistant, offers insulation both in winter and summer, and protects the substructure from corrosion and solar radiation. Decks are bonded over the entire surface, as this helps prevent cavities where water could accumulate. Depending on the construction of the ship and the type of deck, our deck bonding solutions offer the proper system that fits the respective purpose.
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Deck Caulking
Marine decks can be made from real wood, PVC or polyurethane. For real wood decks, it is particularly important to durably protect the joints against water intrusion. Our deck caulking products fulfill the highest requirements when it comes to salt and freshwater resistance as well as UV. Additionally, the joints allow for permanent absorption of movement while simultaneously being easy to process and sand.
Furthermore, the bedding of deck floors is subject to volume changes as well as thermal changes in length caused by temperature differences. Our deck caulks meet these requirements as the bedding compound has both high flexibility and great strength to keep the deck flooring in place.
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Inflatables
Whether used for fun in the sun, rafting, diving or fishing, or by firefighters, sea rescue teams and military personnel, inflatable boats are equipped for even the toughest jobs. Whether compact or comfortable, luxurious or functional, they prove their many uses every day on rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Depending on the type of boat and the usage area, PVC, TPU, chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) synthetic rubber or neoprene are bonded. Our inflatable boat adhesives provide a secure bond that prevents the loss of function and resistance to UV, temperature, and hydrolysis, thereby ensuring that the inflatable boat will last for many years.
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Marine Structural Adhesives
In modern yachts and boats made from GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) or aluminum, the deck hull connection, stringer bonding, and the mounting of the flying bridge constructions are some of the components that must endure high mechanical stress.
Our portfolio of structural adhesives offers a strong range of adhesives to bond stringers, ribs, and transoms to reduce weight and noise while lowering costs. By using H.B. Fuller marine structural adhesives and sealants, vibrations are reduced, different elongations are balanced, and shocks are absorbed.
Conventional joining methods such as rivets or screws result in damage of the thermal insulation or the components through deformation or corrosion. Using marine adhesives and sealants prevents this, and actually increases rigidity and decreases the weight of the panel. They are therefore used in many areas in boat and ship building, including walls, doors, decorative panels, interior linings, floor plates and ceilings.
Following are some areas in marine structural bonding where our adhesive solutions are utilized.
Outside Bonding and Sealing
Whether for design or safety requirements, many attachments on boats and ships need to be bonded or sealed. Our outside applications offer very good resistance against weathering and UV radiation.
Bonding and Sealing below the Water Line
Attachments below the water line need very strong bonds and tight seals to ensure the integrity of the hull during long periods in the water.
Inside Bonding and Sealing
To avoid mechanical fixings and cracking noises, many materials on the inside of a boat are bonded or sealed. We offer solutions for all common materials.
Sandwich and Panel Manufacturing
Our portfolio of structural adhesives offers a strong range of adhesives to produce sandwich panels and decorative panels made from different materials. Sandwich elements significantly reduce net weight without losing their intrinsic properties. Materials as diverse as wood, metal, plastics or ultramodern composites with a foam or honeycomb core are used in this context.
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Window Bonding
On ships, bonded windows enable architectural freedom, modern design and novel types of constructions. Despite the lack of space, frameless windows support the illusion of wide spaces and limitless views. We can bond not only conventional mineral glass but also synthetic glass like polycarbonate.
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Window SealingOn the water, such facade systems are subject to strong movements and torsions. In addition, they must resist strong UV radiation and all types of weather. Our marine glazing, secondary sealants, cast resins, panel adhesives, and marine weather sealants help realize such complex projects.