Subsea Buoyancy Modules

Subsea Buoyancy Module

Made of Syntactic Foam or Chemical Foam

The subsea solid buoyancy material (syntactic foam) is a solid compound obtained by filling an organic polymer material with an inorganic light-weight filler material through a physical and chemical reaction. The deep-sea buoyancy material is a low-density, high-strength porous structure material. It is a counterweight material for underwater operation equipment.

The subsea buoyancy module is a polymer-based solid material with low density, high strength, and low water absorption. It has the characteristics of low density (0.35～0.7g/cm3), low water absorption ( ≤2%), high mechanical strength (compressive strength 1～100MPa), corrosion resistance, and secondary mechanical processing.

The solid buoyancy modules can meet the requirements of different underwater applications. An underwater system made of high-performance solid buoyancy materials. Not only can it dive to greater depths, increase the payload, and reduce energy consumption. And it can maintain a stable working condition underwater. Deep-sea solid buoyancy materials are an indispensable part of deep diving technology in the 21st century.

Material Advantages

Low Density

The density (0.08~0.7g/cm3) is much lower than the density of water. It povides the greatest possible buoyancy per unit volume.

Low Water Absorption

Water absorption rate is not more than 3%. It provides stable buoyancy under large waer pressure.

High Mechanical Strength

The compressive strength is 1~100Mpa. The pressure resistance is excellent. It can withstand the full range of hydrostatic pressure.

Corrosion Resistance

It is resistant to deep sea water corrosion and has good weather resistance. Excellent machinning performance.

Syntactic Foam

Syntactic foams are composite materials synthesized by filling a metal, polymer, or ceramic matrix with hollow spheres called micro balloons or cenospheres or non-hollow spheres

Model	Density (g/cm3)	Compression Strength (Mpa)	Water Absorption (24h)	Submersible Depth (m)
SBM-35	0.35±0.02	≥8	≤1%	200
SBM-37H	0.37±0.02	≥10	≤1%	500
SBM-38	0.38±0.02	≥10	≤1%	300
SBM-40	0.40±0.02	≥12	≤1%	500
SBM-42H	0.42±0.02	≥20	≤1%	1000
SBM-45	0.45±0.02	≥20	≤1%	1000
SBM-48	0.48±0.02	≥25	≤1%	2000
SBM-51	0.51±0.02	≥35	≤1%	3000
SBM-54	0.54±0.02	≥45	≤1%	4500
SBM-57H	0.57±0.02	≥55	≤1%	6000
SBM-63	0.63±0.02	≥55	≤1%	6000
SBM-70	＜0.7	≥90	≤1%	11000

Chemical Foaming Solid Buoyancy Material

The chemical foaming method buoyancy material is a kind of polyurethane-epoxy resin rigid foam composite material made by the chemical foaming method.

Model	Density (g/cm3)	Compression Strength (Mpa)	Water Absorption (24h)	Submersible Depth (m)
CSBM-08	0.08	/	≤2%	surface
CSBM-020	0.20	0.5	≤2%	50
CSBM-025	0.25	1	≤2%	100

Left: Chemical PVC Foam; —– Right: Syntactic Foam Blocks

Syntactic foam Subsea Buoyancy Products

The subsea buoyancy material is mainly used underwater. Based on its characteristics of low density and high pressure resistance, it mainly provides the required buoyancy for underwater operation equipment. Spray coating or protective layer treatment can be applied to the surface as required. Often manufactured and processed into floats, buoys and other counterweight products. It can also be directly machined into product parts.

It can not only meet the mechanical requirements of the product structure, but also greatly reduce the product weight and other functions. The application of this material realizes the functions that are difficult for metal structural parts to realize. At present, it has been used in underwater deep submersibles, underwater robots, etc., and can be used safely at depths of several thousand meters underwater.