Page 39: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 1995)

TECHNOLOGY

Refrasil: High-Temperature

Stability Welding Cloth

A new product line of Refrasil

Welding Grade Cloth (WGC) has been introduced by BP Chemicals (Hitco), Inc. The products, in nomi- nal widths of 36 in. and varying in thickness from .032 in. to .056 in., are designed to resist continuous temperatures to 1,800 degrees F (982 degrees C). Thermal protec- tion continues during intermittent exposure to temperatures over 2,000 degrees F (1,093 degrees C), al- though some embrittlement and shrinkage does occur.

When used as welding blankets, screens and shielding, Refrasil cloth reportedly protects personnel, equipment and finishes from radi- ant heat, molten metal splash and sparks. The cloth also finds wide usage for stress-relieving pads, fur- nace curtains, casting mold protec- tion blankets, heat treating, sepa- rator cloth, and general weld pro- tection in shipbuilding and repair, and many other industries.

Standard weights of the fabric are 18 and 30 oz./sq. yd. An abra- sion-resistant (AR) version (19 and 34 oz./sq. yd. weight) utilizes a ure- thane finish to enhance surface toughness and provide durability against dragging, scraping, tearing and snagging that may occur in a rugged industrial environment.

WGC cloth products are made up of continuous filament amorphous silica fibers. The high silica content of 96 percent, according to Hitco, offers reliable thermal protection and resistance to most chemicals, corro- sive compounds and other elements within the cloth's temperature range. Low chlorine content report- edly enhances suitability for weld- ing stainless steels as well as ensur- ing against weld contamination.

The WGC products augment the existing line of industrial grade

Refrasil cloth products which in- clude Standard (UC 100), Abrasion

Resistant (AR 100), Pre-Shrunk (C 100), higher-temperature Irish (C 1554) and Coated Irish (2221).

For more information on BP Chemicals

Circle 69 on Reader Service Card

Aojpis Support (ontmct

The U.S. Navv has awarded

Utton's Ingalls Shipbuilding division,

Pascagoula, Miss., $21.7 million to continue engineering and planning services on the Arleigh Burke (DDG- 51) class Aegis guided missile de- stroyer program.

This award extends Litton's engi- neering. design and technical plan- ning services work on the destroyer- program for the second year of a five-year contract with a total poten- tial value of about $ 177 million.

Last June, Litton was awarded

S30.5 million for the first year of the current contract. Litton has been involved in technical services and planning work for the destroyers since December 1 988.

Ingalls has built and delivered four Aegis destroyers, and is cur- rently under contract for 10 addi- tional ships of the class. The fifth vessel, Russell (DDG-59), was com- missioned into active service on May 20, at Naval Station Pascagoula.

Litton is a leader in worldwide technology markets for advanced electronic and defense systems, and a major designer and builder of sur face combatant ships for the U.S.

Navy and allied nations.

For more information on Ingalls

Circle 162 on Reader Service Card w

Offshore. Onshore.

For environmental applications that require an intrinsically safe radio, Standard

Communications meets your requirements with the HX220AS or the

HX340.

Two radios so tough, thev meet or exceed Mil

Spec 810D and J.I.S. standards for water integrity. Both constructed using a high impact, non-corrosive polycarbonate case, water resistant gasketing, and gold battery contacts to ensure maximum corrosion resistance.

The six watt HX220AS is the most powerful, r intrinsically safe marine * handheld you can buy.

W* It's also the easiest to fH use, even with gloves on. * " This radio offers programmable scanning, with one-touch channel hxj'os—' se(ectjon to a|| available channels.

The HX340 is available in both UHF or VHF at five watts. With eight channel capability, channels 6 and 16 are included on the VHF.

The UHF provides four of the most commonly used UHF frequencies in the 450 MHz range. For that extra measure of security, the HX340 features a low battery warning light. f 3 Year T.

Waterproof

Warranty \fl hen it comes to professional marine communications, guessing is not an Option. ~

There's only one choice • V in an intrinsically safe radio.

Nothing Takes To Water Like Horizon! t

Standard j> Communications

P.O. Box 921 j I

Tos Angeles, (~V-'>000')-2151

Telephone: 310/532-330(1 310/515-71^

June, 1995 Circle 338 on Reader Service Card 41