Composite materials used to create 50ft long catamaran

Pauger Carbon Composites, a Hungarian manufacturer of composite yachts and masts, designed and built the catamaran in time for this year's Blue Ribbon Regatta on Lake Balaton in Hungary. The design objectives were to achieve the best power-to-weight ratio possible in constructing a lightweight vessel capable of achieving high speeds in long distance sailing. Following consultation with Huntsman Advanced Materials' Hungarian distributor Farix, Pauger Carbon selected Huntsman's composite resin and composite bonding systems to reinforce and complete the yacht's composite structure. The materials were chosen for their easy processing capabilities, thermal endurance, high quality finish and their ability to facilitate the creation of robust, lightweight parts. The composite hulls were produced using a hot curing system for infusion (Araldite LY 1564/Aradur 2954), which combines low viscosity with a long pot life and strong mechanical, dynamic and thermal properties. Huntsman's GL certified Araldite prepreg system (Araldite LY 1556/Aradur 1571/Accelerator 1573/Hardener XB 3403) was used to create a number of the yacht's components, including the mast. Denes Paulovits, owner and managing director of Pauger Carbon Composites, commented: "In putting the two masts side by side, we embraced a completely new and innovative design concept with the objective of implementing high forestay strength which required a brand new solution for fixing the double masts. Therefore selection of the right materials was of the utmost importance. "The chosen Araldite systems played a significant role in helping to optimise the manufacturing process while enabling the realisation of a full-carbon, high tech multihull and innovative rig that has already proven itself in the fast and extremely competitive arena of long-distance sailing."