Military patents polystyrene and bedliner packaging

[Kharn]

Interesting article on how the US Army is now making packages out of bed liner and polystyrene foam.

[quote]By using COTS items like polystyrene and truck bed liner, the Packaging Branch has been able to meet urgent need requests for the new boxes, providing direct packaging assistance to the Warfighter within as little as six weeks.

“These new boxes are two-thirds the cost of the wooden boxes and one-third the weight of them,â€

[Shadow Catcher]

Way Cool
Sculpt the foam spray it with truck bed liner and you got it.

[GPW]

Only the Army can afford to spray Expensive truck bed liner on foam ... for boxes ...Our tax dollars at work ...
Funny,maybe they read about it here ...

[Kharn]

Only the Army can afford to spray Expensive truck bed liner on foam ... for boxes ...Our tax dollars at work ...
Funny,maybe they read about it here ...

If not foam and bedliner, they use Pelican or Storm cases, with custom cut interior foam. Very expensive, each one can run several hundred bucks. So the coated foam is actually a gigantic cost savings.

[mezmo]

Hi Kharn,

Thanks for posting this info! Quite interesting. I can see its potential for
"The Foam Method". Based on the performance they mention, this may be
able to open up the foam method for the serious off-roaders who are
concerned with impact toughness and such. Not a least cost method, but
the cost may be worth it for those who want the lightness and toughness combination this combo seems to provide.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[GPW]

Very Interesting ... but PRICY .... At least we know the Idea works ...

[CARS]

I use Upol's Raptor Bedliner kit for truck beds. I think I pay $120.00 for the kit.

A smoother kit is from SEM, but cost's around $200.00

Both are a urethane product, catalyzed, and tintable to any color you choose.

I had always planned on spraying my tear's roof with bedliner, even if I use ply. I might even spray the entire tear... don't know.

If I had a bedliner job coming up, I would do some tests of foam. I just don't want to order a kit just to make some samples.

[GPW]

Hey Cars , you need a special spray rig for that ...??? Didn’t know you could DIY ... that changes everything ...

[CARS]

Hey Cars , you need a special spray rig for that ...??? Didn’t know you could DIY ... that changes everything ...

The Upol has it's own undercoating gun because it comes in 4 separate quart jars. The SEM kit is a gallon can. I just use my 3M undercoating gun.

I don't know if It's DIY or not... I guess if you can build a tear you should be able to use it. Prior painting experience would be good along with the proper respirator and ventilation.

[CARS]

Here is a site that compares a few different options:
http://www.tcpglobal.com/detailsupplydepot/dsd18.aspx

The don't list the SEM bedliner that I have used, but SEM is a good brand and the Raptor kit is a good one too.

[crumbruiser]

I don't know if this is as good or even the same product but, Meijer and Wal Mart sells bedliner in a 1 gallon pail and I bought a spray paint type of can at an autoparts store that I painted my old truck wheels with. I think the 1 gallon stuff is about $50.00? Just use a brush or roller to apply.
Frank

[CARS]

I don't know if this is as good or even the same product but, Meijer and Wal Mart sells bedliner in a 1 gallon pail and I bought a spray paint type of can at an autoparts store that I painted my old truck wheels with. I think the 1 gallon stuff is about $50.00? Just use a brush or roller to apply.
Frank

Most of the "roll on" diy stuff is not urethane based or catalyzed. Therefore, they are not as strong. I'm not saying that it wouldn't keep the rain out, it's just not as good of a product.

Now, the biggest question is this. As a catalyzed product (paint, body filler, fiberglass, etc.) goes through it's curing stages, it gets hot. Sometimes really hot. What would this do to the foam???

[GPW]

Cars, you’re probably in a better situation to test this kind of stuff ... Maybe thin coats ???

[CARS]

Cars, you’re probably in a better situation to test this kind of stuff ... Maybe thin coats ???

Yes I am, but I have no product to test. Spending $100.00+ just to test is not going to happen. I need to find a customer that needs a bedliner!

Thin coats: Really not an option. It goes on thick. I am guessing 1/8"??

I really don't know how hot it would get when curing. I know you can't hold a chuck of body filler in your hand when it cures. Ya, it's that hot. I've never held paint while it dried. Why would I??? That is just weird... till now

[Kharn]

Google Patents and search for 7896182 to read the patent. It includes a significant amount of information, including hot/cold/water spray test results.