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Maintenance CSM rubberized fabric

By properly processing, storing and maintaining CSM fabric you will extend the life of the fabric.

General recommendations

Below you can find general recommendations for the application; of Achilles CSM rubber cloth (Hypalon®) for the production of inflatable boats. The listed information is only intended to be used as a general guideline, the production of the final product itself and its implementation is the responsibility of the manufacturer.

Notes for the cutting process

CSM Rubbercloth (Hypalon®) by Achilles CSM rubbercloth has a 5-year warranty, but without submission of the registration document, the warranty provided in the agreement does not apply. Therefore, the above product administration is a hard requirement, we ask you to take care of this.It is recommended to make a boat from one roll. Record the roll number of the material used to manufacture the boat.

Achilles CSM Rubber Cloth is dusted with starch powder to prevent sticking during the cutting and manufacturing process. The starch powder is not harmful to the human body.

It is possible to wipe off the starch with the cloth, but it is recommended to leave it and continue cutting and fabricating, as this will not interfere with the subsequent production process.

During production, at Achilles, one spot per roll is chosen for inspection of fabric deformation and the result is written down on the defective content sheet. Acceptance criteria for deformation regulated 80% within 3 cm, 20% within 5 cm per 1 batch (1,000 m) for specification.

Distortion of the fabric sometimes leads to twisting of the boat. Distortion of the fabric means that warp and weft are not crossed at right angles. Excessive distortion can cause twisting of the tube, resulting in problems when gluing the tube with transom and FRP base.

As the inherent characteristics of CSM fabric, minor deformation is inevitable. Therefore, consider the adjustment of the twisted tube during the production process.

Notes for polishing

Polishing the material before processing is very important. If polishing is too strong, the base material of the fabric may be exposed and the risk of air leakage increases. On the other hand, insufficient polishing can result in insufficient adhesive strength.

Much testing, training and adjustment is needed to master polishing properly.

In the production of Achilles inflatable boats, the fabric is polished with a #80 flap wheel (grain size) on a hand-held drill at 20,000 rpm or slower.

Notes on adhesion

A variety of factors, such as the thickness of the adhesive, the mixing agent used and the drying time, etc., Influence the bond strength, care is needed when selecting the bonding method.

If you already have experience with adhesion between rubbers or between rubber and other materials apply the same approach using the same adhesive and the same methods.

For reference, as an example of the adhesive agent used in bonding; Achilles CSM rubber cloth, the following condition is presented.

Including these examples, when selecting the adhesive, please test in advance and check the suitability of your selection.

  • Adhesive: BOSTIK NE-486
  • Stiffener: BAYER DESMODURRFE
  • Additive: 3-5% on the adhesive

(Please note that adhesion and bonding properties vary depending on drying and polishing conditions).

Combination of possible migration and preventive measures

The odour of organic (toluene, styrene, etc.) solvent can be migrated.If the amount of organic solvent used is as small as what is normally used at the time of the process, the odour will naturally disappear, so you don't need to worry about migration. However, if the amount used is large, dry it thoroughly until the smell is completely gone, then fold and wrap the boat.

When PVC materials are used as components, keep in mind that the contact of rubber with the PVC may cause migration of plasticiser in PVC to rubber, leading to blooming of the rubber. It is recommended to carry out the contact test of the materials planned for use beforehand and, when the boat is folded and packed, avoid direct contact of rubber and PVC by placing the polyethylene liner between them.Achilles' boat also places a polyethylene liner between rubber and PVC when the boat is folded and packed.

Storage method

Due to its high weight, pressure can build up after long-term storage.

When stacking fabrics in stacks for storage, place cushioning materials between them to absorb the impact on the fabric. Try not to apply force directly to the surface.

It is better that substances are not stacked in stacks when stored.

Do you still have questions?

Do you have any questions or are you curious which Achilles CSM Rubbercloth is the right choice for your end product or project? If so, please contact us without obligation by calling; +31 (0) 252 516 938 Or send a message and we will contact you.

Contact

Wendt Agenturen B.V.
Heereweg 21
2161 AC Lisse
Netherlands

Telephone: +31 (0) 252 516 938 
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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