FRP ? exterior ?!!! attn: BEV T and others

[mike_c]

That HDPE is interesting stuff....

Comes in 1/16 in. thickness, 48" x 120" sheets, as well as 60" x 120" sheets, which would do the sides and top of my teardrop perfectly. I wonder how opaque it is. Polyethylene is generally somewhat translucent, if I recall. But I could paint the trailer white before applying the external skins. Sounds like construction adhesive mounts the stuff securely but I think I'd want to trim and float it anyway, for security.

Has anyone else tried using this stuff to skin a trailer?

--Mike C.

[Colemancooler]

i found an in depth thread on here yesterday in regards to this, but the outcome was that it expands and contracts too much from hot to cold, so it does not look nice when it bubbles up and wrinkles from expansion, sorry I don't have a link

[mike_c]

i found an in depth thread on here yesterday in regards to this, but the outcome was that it expands and contracts too much from hot to cold, so it does not look nice when it bubbles up and wrinkles from expansion, sorry I don't have a link

Hmmm. The Anvil company apparently manufactures industry standard airline and trucking packing cases out of HDPE on plywood: http://www.anvilcase.com/products/products/anvil-iron/

[quote]Anvil Iron® is our most extreme line of defense. It utilizes an extremely tough defensive HDPE covering over the plywood that provides additional protection to cases that are constantly on the go, and often subjected to forklift applications. The case wall is a custom laminated process that is composed of 1/8â€

[bdosborn]

The PolyMax went badly:

PolyMax Thread

Basically, nothing (including any type of adhesive) will stick to it.

Bruce

[Colemancooler]

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=6803&highlight=polymax

skip to the last page for the outcome

[mike_c]

This is fascinating, but unfortunately not very illuminating. There are apparently several companies manufacturing HDPE faced plywood panels-- they advertise incredible surface resistance and strength, both indoors and outdoors, including applications like decking and marinas.

On the other hand, most everyone posting to the various forums I've browsed says that the stuff essentially cannot be glued, at least not permanently, even with marine adhesives. If that's the case, I can imagine it looking pretty sad on a trailer if its coefficient of expansion is significantly different than the underlying plywood.

Nonetheless, there are numerous manufacturers who do sell the stuff laminated to plywood, and they claim exceptionally long life for the composite material.

--Mike C.

[mike_c]

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=6803&highlight=polymax

skip to the last page for the outcome

Yeah, that last response is discouraging. But Sid used double sided tape to adhere it, and presumably it came loose. Damn. It sounds like the PERFECT skin material-- inexpensive, UV stable, damn nearly indestructible. The problem seems to be adhesion to a plywood substrate, but as noted above, some manufacturers are selling ply laminated with the stuff for exterior applications. How do they do it?

[Colemancooler]

http://www.citadelap.com/products/enviroguard-ply/

[angib]

We used to use HDPE on boats and found that some adhesive tapes would stick to it, but we weren't trying to get a strong bond, just enough to stop the HDPE pieces flying around.

I believe there are adhesives that you can use to make a strong permanent bond to HDPE, but the problem is the price.

[Chef_Stan]

I posted a question about FRP a few months back. Someone responded by saying that they made fence pannes out of FRP ten years ago and they are still holding up strong. I think when I build I am gong to use this for at least the side wall skin.

[Boodro]

Hi Chef , I have frp on my roof , its been 6 yeaqrs now with no problems. Its very easy to work with I used to have it on the sides to , but changed it to a woodie , then painted it. The roof stays cool in the sun as its white. Good luck with your build.

[sid]

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=6803&highlight=polymax

skip to the last page for the outcome

Yeah, that last response is discouraging. But Sid used double sided tape to adhere it, and presumably it came loose. Damn. It sounds like the PERFECT skin material-- inexpensive, UV stable, damn nearly indestructible. The problem seems to be adhesion to a plywood substrate, but as noted above, some manufacturers are selling ply laminated with the stuff for exterior applications. How do they do it?

Nope, it did not come loose, that was not a problem at all (I think the tape was called VHB? ...for Very High Bond?).... But as was stated somewhere else here, the contraction and expansion of the polymax causes an oil can effect. It was not extreme, but not very appealing to the eyes, especially in the sunshine. The stuff is very durable though and the teardrop is still on the road.

Sid