DSM Composite Resins has announced it has developed technology that will
optimise performance of the Dutch Olympic sailing team’s 470 class racing
dinghy at this summer’s Beijing games.
The revolutionary technique is being trialed to make the boats’ hulls
stronger, lighter and more stable than ever before. DSM’s technology increases
the rigidity of the boat by 120%, makes it 200% stronger and reduces its
weight by 2.5%. It will also minimise energy loss for maximum speed and reduce
swing, which could prove decisive in the short waves characteristic of the
China coastal waters, where Olympic sailing will take place.
Over the past twelve months Dutch Olympic sailing team members Marcelien De
Koning and Lobke Berkhout have been training intensively with a prototype of
the new boat. "The new Olympic boat offers the best of two worlds: a
perfectly moulded shape with exactly the right stiffness, which can bring
speed benefits. This combination was previously not available. We are very
glad we have the opportunity to sail this boat," said De Koning.
DSM’s engineers optimised the standard certified hull for the 470 class by
adding the new special resin for extra stiffness and weight reduction in the
polyester laminate. DSM used the new gelcoat Neogel Eco that reduced the
weight in the coating layer with 15%. Neogel Eco is a low VOC gelcoat
specially formulated to have 25% less styrene content than conventional
formulations. Not only does this result in a healthier workshop environment
but it also improves yield as less material is used and the styrene
evaporation is less.
In addition, DSM created a special combination of glass fibre and polyester
resin that makes the hull extremely stiff and strong. It then built up the
laminate layers through the new application method to reduce swing.
