ULTRA Hull Material
AVE Ultra is made of a new ultra high performance composite designed by AVE-chimera called Xylium carbon fibre. In addition, AVE has incorporated different matrix materials in different areas of the hull to optimise strength and performance:
Xylium is a chimera polymer that has been designed by AVE-chimera. It is 30% lighter than epoxy resin and has over 5 times the resistance to shear force. In combination with carbon fibre it creates an ultra-light composite that is 30% lighter than the World's best performing composite. Xylium's performance is so ground-breaking that it underpins the relationship between AVE-chimera and Airbus: Click here to find out more.
On the underside of each hull a layer of kevlar has been inserted into the composite matrix. Kevlar is the material that is commonly used in bullet-proof materials as it is extremely resistant to puncturing; this property provides AVE ULTRA with extreme protection against the hull being punctured when contacting rocks, coral, sharp metal objects under the water line, or any other hard surface that the hull may contact.
Cork is used as a lightweight and sustainable material to provide depth, and thereby structural rigidity, between the inner and out layers of carbon fibre.
Xylium is a chimera polymer that has been designed by AVE-chimera. It is 30% lighter than epoxy resin and has over 5 times the resistance to shear force. In combination with carbon fibre it creates an ultra-light composite that is 30% lighter than the World's best performing composite. Xylium's performance is so ground-breaking that it underpins the relationship between AVE-chimera and Airbus: Click here to find out more.
On the underside of each hull a layer of kevlar has been inserted into the composite matrix. Kevlar is the material that is commonly used in bullet-proof materials as it is extremely resistant to puncturing; this property provides AVE ULTRA with extreme protection against the hull being punctured when contacting rocks, coral, sharp metal objects under the water line, or any other hard surface that the hull may contact.
Cork is used as a lightweight and sustainable material to provide depth, and thereby structural rigidity, between the inner and out layers of carbon fibre.
Unsinkable: Lighter-Than-Water Xylium carbon fibre
Stronger than a RIB
Xylium has more than 5 times the resistance to shear force than epoxy carbon fibre. Tests were conducted by the independent CRITT laboratory in Toulouse and reviewed by AVE-chimera's client, Airbus.
More information about Xylium testing is available on the AVE-chimera website.
More information about Xylium testing is available on the AVE-chimera website.
Shear strength results on tests undertaken by CRITT, Toulouse