With its Mini 6.50 monohull, Arkema is forging ahead into sailing with renewed energy. This prototype with an innovative design takes up a major challenge: the construction of a monohull that is recyclable.
Unveiled at JEC 2016, the global event for composites applications, Arkema’s Mini 6.50 was launched in early June.
A floating laboratory teeming with innovations
Building on their experience with the Multi50 trimaran, Arkema and Team Lalou Multi have designed a resolutely high-tech Mini 6.50 class prototype. Those products with a proven track record on the trimaran have been retained, in particular the methacrylate structural adhesives and the Altuglas® ShieldUp acrylic glass.
New products have also stepped on board, like the Bostik glues, Bostik having recently joined the Group, and the Elium® recyclable resin.
The building of this boat was planned from the outset as a genuine research project. The Elium® resin, for example, fresh out of Arkema’s laboratories, had never been used in this type of manufacture. This full-scale test has enabled the Group to save months of development.
“The building of this boat was planned from the outset as a genuine research project. The Elium® resin, for example, fresh out of Arkema’s laboratories, had never been used in this type of manufacture. This full-scale test has enabled the Group to save months of development.” says Lalou Roucayrol, Skipper Team Arkema Lalou Multi
The Arkema 3 Mini 6.50 prototype, a floating laboratory
Launched at Port-Médoc (Gironde, France), the Arkema 3 Mini 6.50 is now entering its test and optimization phase to assess this various nautical equipment. The ambition is clear: to take part in the Mini-Transat 2017 with the young skipper Quentin Vlamynck at the helm.
The hull and the bridge of this 6.5 m boat are made entirely from recyclable thermoplastic composite, thanks to the Elium® resin, infused with carbon fiber. This liquid acrylic resin is processed in the same way as the resins traditionally used in boat building, and features all their mechanical properties, but is recyclable unlike those resins.
“This is an answer to the major issue of the treatment of end-of-life composites. Arkema is the first company to be marketing a resin of this type, and the Arkema 3 Mini 6.50 is the first boat built with this type of resin to be sailing the oceans.” says Daniel Le Bouvier, Head of Nanopolymers Department.
Discover more at Arkema Official Website.