As an important part of the internal structure of a ship, the ship cabin partition wall must meet multiple performance requirements such as fire prevention, moisture resistance, sound insulation, and lightweight. Aluminum honeycomb panels are widely used in ship cabin partitions due to their unique honeycomb structure and excellent physical properties. This article combines the environmental characteristics of ship cabins and moisture-proof requirements, and systematically explains the selection points of moisture-proof aluminum honeycomb panels from the dimensions of material characteristics, selection parameters, standards and specifications, installation and maintenance.
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1. Analysis of moisture-proof requirements for ship cabin partitions
Ship cabins are in a marine environment with high humidity, high salt spray, and large temperature fluctuations for a long time, which places strict requirements on the moisture-proof performance of partition materials:
1)High humidity environment: The relative humidity of ship cabins exceeds 70% all year round, and local areas (such as bathrooms and kitchens) can reach more than 90%, which can easily cause materials to absorb moisture, deform, or mildew.
2)Salt spray corrosion: Chloride ions in the marine environment have strong permeability, and ordinary materials are prone to corrosion, resulting in structural failure.
3)Temperature fluctuations: The temperature difference between the inside and outside of the cabin during the voyage of the ship can reach more than 20°C. The material must have good thermal stability to avoid cracking caused by thermal expansion and contraction.
4)Functional requirements: The partition wall must have sound insulation, fire prevention, and lightweight characteristics, while meeting the ship's weight reduction needs to improve navigation efficiency.
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2. Moisture-proof performance advantages of aluminum honeycomb panels
Aluminum honeycomb panels are made of aluminum alloy panels, honeycomb core materials and back panels through adhesives. Their moisture-proof performance is mainly due to the following characteristics:
1)The material itself is corrosion-resistant
The surface of the aluminum alloy panel (such as 3003H24, 5052AH14) is treated with fluorocarbon roller coating or color-resistant light baking paint to form a dense oxide film that can resist corrosion such as salt spray and acid rain. The salt spray test shows that the aluminum honeycomb panel has no pinholes, cracks or blistering after 48 hours of spraying.
2)Honeycomb structure isolates moisture penetration
The honeycomb core material is a closed hexagonal structure that effectively blocks the penetration path of water molecules. The core material has a low density (3-7kg/m²) and a water absorption rate of less than 0.1%.
3) Inorganic core material is mildew-resistant
The aluminum honeycomb core material does not contain organic components, will not breed mold, and meets the hygiene standards of ship cabins.
4) Excellent thermal stability
Aluminum has a low thermal expansion coefficient (23×10⁻⁶/℃), and combined with the stress dispersion ability of the honeycomb structure, it can resist deformation caused by temperature changes.
3. Key parameters for moisture-proof aluminum honeycomb panel selection
1) Material structure selection
• Panel selection
o Thickness: 0.8-1.5mm fluorocarbon roll-coated panels are recommended, taking into account both strength and lightness.
o Coating type: PVDF fluorocarbon coating (thickness ≥ 25μm) is preferred, which has better weather resistance than polyester coating and a service life of more than 30 years.
• Core material parameters
o Honeycomb core material: Aluminum honeycomb core (3003/5052 alloy) must be selected to avoid paper honeycomb or plastic honeycomb failure due to moisture absorption.
o Core material density: Select according to the load-bearing requirements of the partition wall. Conventional partition walls can be selected at 3-5kg/m², and high-load areas require ≥7kg/m².
o Honeycomb aperture: 5-6mm aperture balances stiffness and lightness, suitable for ship cabins.
• Back panel design
A 0.6-1.0mm aluminum alloy back panel is used to form a sandwich structure with the panel to enhance the overall impact resistance.
2) Performance index requirements
• Peel strength: ≥30N/cm (ASTM D907 standard), ensuring that the core material and the panel are firmly bonded.
• Fire protection level: Must reach B1 level (GB 8624), no dripping during combustion, smoke density ≤50.
• Sound insulation performance: airborne sound insulation ≥30dB (100-3000Hz), meeting the cabin noise reduction requirements.
• Weather resistance: Pass the salt spray test (ASTM B117) for 48 hours and the ultraviolet aging test (ASTM G154) for 2000 hours.
3) Installation adaptability
• Dimensions: Standard board thickness 25mm, single board area ≤1.2m×2.4m, easy to adapt to the cabin space.
• Edge treatment: Use a sliding installation buckle system to allow free expansion and contraction due to thermal expansion and contraction to avoid cracking due to stress concentration.
• Seam sealing: Use silicone weatherproof glue to fill and ensure waterproof performance at the seams.
4. Selection criteria and certification requirements
1) National standards
o T/CADBM60-2022: Standard for aluminum honeycomb panels for indoor ceiling and wall decoration, which stipulates that the formaldehyde emission is ≤0.025mg/m³, and the heavy metal content complies with EN 71-3.
o JG/T334-2012: Standard for aluminum honeycomb composite panels for building exterior walls, suitable for exposed areas of ship cabins.
2) Ship industry specifications
o CB20170-2016: Specification for aluminum honeycomb panel furniture for ships, requiring the partition board to have an impact energy resistance of ≥150J/m².
o IMO SOLAS Convention: Fire partition materials must pass the vertical burning test (ASTM E84 smoke density ≤50).
3) International certification
o DNV GL/BV certification: Ensure that the material meets the safety standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
5. Typical application scenarios and case references
1) Sanitary cabin partitions
o Requirements: High humidity, frequent water splashing environment, mildew and antibacterial.
o Solution: Use 25mm thick aluminum honeycomb panels, cover the surface with antibacterial coating (such as silver ion treatment), and install waterproof strips at the joints.
2) Cabin and cargo hold partitions
o Requirements: High temperature, oil pollution, mechanical vibration environment.
o Solution: Use 34mm thick high-density aluminum honeycomb panels (core material density ≥ 7kg/m²), the panel is thickened to 1.5mm, and the back panel is made of weather-resistant aluminum plate.
3) Cabin and cab decoration
o Requirements: Both aesthetics and comfort are taken into account.
o Solution: Wood grain transfer aluminum honeycomb panels (thickness 20mm), with PET film on the surface, to achieve wood-like effect while maintaining moisture-proof performance.
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6. Supplier selection and quality control
1) Production qualifications
o Give priority to companies that have passed ISO 9001 quality management system certification, such as Foshan Lilai Senmei, Zhongshan Oulu Meiju, etc.
2) Testing and verification
o Require third-party test reports, focusing on peel strength, fire resistance, and salt spray test data.
3) After-sales service
o Confirm that the supplier provides a warranty of more than 10 years, covering issues such as material aging and coating shedding.
7. Cost and maintenance recommendations
1) Economic analysis
o The initial cost of aluminum honeycomb panels is higher than that of ordinary gypsum boards (about 3-5 times), but the full life cycle cost is lower (maintenance costs are reduced by 60%).
2) Maintenance strategy
o Regularly check the sealing of joints and reapply anti-rust paint every 5 years; avoid scratching the surface coating with sharp objects.
Conclusion
The selection of moisture-proof aluminum honeycomb panels for ship cabin partitions needs to comprehensively consider material properties, standard compliance, installation adaptability and economy. By selecting aluminum honeycomb panels with high peel strength, corrosion-resistant coatings, and IMO-compliant specifications, and combining scientific installation and maintenance strategies, the service life and safety of ship cabins can be significantly improved. It is recommended to give priority to well-known brand products that have passed DNV GL certification and provide full life cycle services.