Composites: Royalex
Constructed of an outer layer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, or vinyl), hard acrylonitrile styrene (ABS) plastic, and an inner layer of ABS foam, Royalex was a composite material used almost exclusively in the production of canoes. The material was developed in the 1970s, and is now no longer used.
The composite is a vulcanized plastic, manufactured using heat-molding thermo/vacuum forming processes, and can be reinforced with additional layers as needed, or the thickness of the layers varied.
Royalex was popular for many valuable properties, including its strength (Royalex canoes can be bounced against boulders without breaking, and are used for whitewater canoes), its insulation from cold water, its buoyancy, and its noise-absorbent properties. It is lightweight, can be left outdoors without fear of corrosion, and can be repaired (if damaged).
Cheaper and more durable than composite canoes, and lighter than the polyethylene varieties, Royalex was nevertheless an expensive material (compared to aluminum and polyethylene canoes), and stopped being manufactured around the end of 2014, ending production of Royalex canoes.
Sources: ( 1 – image 1 ) ( 2 – image 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 )
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