While you may be constructing load bearing members you are not constructing
structural members that will affect safety of flight, ergo, don't sweat the
small stuff. In your application the foam contributes only shape not
strength so use whatever provides the shape you desire and don't worry about
the chemical makeup of the foam, unless you need to know the appropriate
solvent to remove the foam.
And, yes, the blue stuff is Styrofoam, generically known as polystyrene; see
http://www.dow.com/styrofoam/ for details, and more answers to your inquiry.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
A070
-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of fkyle
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2000 7:47 AM
Subject: Foam.....
Hello, eh?
I am in the process of producing a few accessory "walls" and support
for the under-baggeage area. I have been singularly unsuccessful in
acquiring the right foam for the core of these. The Rutan and Bingelis books
go into blue and white colours, but don't articulate the chemical bases
sufficiently.
I have been able to acquire small sheets of urethane foam used in a
commercial aircraft local site, and Corning pink 4'x8'x1/2" sheets of
"polystyrene". Nowhere do I see the sort of foam centres evident in the
Europa fuselage layups. Even Aircraft Spruce don't specialize in thin enough
material.
My questions are these:
(a) is polystyrene 'styrofoam'?;
(b) can I rough the pink polystyrene surface to acquire an opencell
adhesion to epoxy?;
(c) does anyone know where I can duplicate the Europa style sheets of
foam?
Unfortunately I cannot produce awards for replies but would Endless
Respect be enough?
Happy Landings,
Ferg A064
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