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Rod Catanach aligning syntactic foam section onto the sphere.

Rod Catanach aligning syntactic foam section onto the sphere.
Rod Catanach aligning syntactic foam section onto the sphere.
Rod Catanach aligning syntactic foam section onto the sphere.
Rod Catanach aligning syntactic foam section onto the sphere.
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211134
Kleindinst, Thomas N.
Rod Catanach aligning syntactic foam section onto the sphere.
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01/10/2013
graphics/Alvin_Foam/_DSC0162.JPG
Image Of the Day caption:
WHOI Engineer Rod Catanach positions a block of syntactic foam above the titanium personnel sphere of the Alvin submersible during its recent overhaul and upgrade, which included the addition of new foam capable of withstanding pressure at depths of 6,500 meters. The foam is made of hollow glass microspheres mixed with epoxy to make hard blocks. The microspheres make the foam buoyant in water, but in air, this block weights nearly 1,400 pounds.
Caption from Oceanus magazine, Vol. 51, No. 1, pg. 43:
We use syntactic foam on many of our deep-sea vehicles. Its the white material on the outside of Alvin. The titanium sphere and frame are Alvins structural backbone. The foam isnt structural; its for flotation. Its made of tiny, hollow, glass microspheres mixed with epoxy to make hard blocks. The microspheres are so small they look like talcum powder. When they are packed tightly together with minimum amounts of epoxy, they can withstand high compression and are buoyant in water. The material is put into molds, like a big bread pan, and mixed and allowed to cure, to make blocks of foam. (continued.)
Photo by Tom Kleindinst
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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