Thanks to the use of the particle foam E-por®, Yamaha Motor WaveRunners fulfill the requirements on lightweight and buoyancy according to ISO 13590 . E-por is installed in the front and side spaces of the body of the VX700S model by the Japanese manufacturers where it ensures the buoyancy of the PWC (personal water craft) due to its low density.
E-por is well suited as a flotage structure, due to its low density and good property profile. The VX700S at a vessel’s body weight of 240 kilograms is the lightest three-seater PWC model ever built. Despite making up a large proportion of the total volume, the E-por parts account for only 3.3 kilograms of the total weight. (Photo: BASF / Yamaha, 2013)
The weight of the VX700S consists mainly of the engine, jet, tank and hull and it offers a boarding capacity for up to three passengers. To achieve the necessary flotage, the water craft requires a stable structure which provides the buoyant force. E-por is extremely well suited as a flotage structure , due to its low density and good property profile. T he VX700S at a vessel’s body weight of 240 kilograms is the lightest three-seater PWC model ever built. Despite making up a large proportion of the total volume, the E-por parts account for only 3.3 kilograms of the total weight. Furthermore, E-por can be easily processed, like EPS (expanded polystyrene), into the desired density and shape, so that the molded parts can be inserted optimally into the casing.
Sufficiently afloat with E-por®
Hiromi Ishizaka, account manager at the Japanese molding manufacturer Astec Corporation, together with their business partner Sano Enterprises , advised Yamaha Motor during the material selection: "The BASF interpolymer offers us and our customers an interesting alternative to other foams , and E-por impresses because of its good property profile." In particular, the minimal water absorption, its crack-resistance and also the good chemical resistance of the BASF particle foam played a crucial role in the selection process. With these characteristics, E-por also assists in improving the rigidity of the vessel’s hull. Keijiro Ikeda , Manager at Yamaha Motors’ Water Vehicle Business Unit , explains: "The foam is suitable for use in the WaveRunner as it meets all our technical requirements."
Not just a leisure activity
PWCs consist of a hull made of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic and are supplied in various designs – from the stand-up versions suitable for one person to sit down models for up to four people. They are known primarily in the leisure field and are often seen in resorts near water where vacationers rent the vehicles for sporty tours. Personal water craft are, however, also used as fast and flexible emergency and patrol vehicles for water-borne police, fire and rescue services.
The most popular market for PWCs is the US where at present approximately 1.2 million vehicles are registered. Yamaha Motor has produced personal water crafts under the trade name "WaveRunner" since 1986 and at that time was the first manufacturer to bring a tandem model of sit down type to the market. Here, the Japanese company draws on decades of experience in the manufacture of boats, boat engines and motorcycles.
Expandable foam
E-por is an expandable interpolymer, based on a complex formulation of different polymers which interact with each other as well as with the blowing agent. It is a crack-resistant particle foam that is very resistant to solvents too. This tough-elastic foam can also be stored, processed, and recycled like Styropor.