PMG Aqua-Steel Utility Sheet 3/8" Thickness

AquaSteel® is a phenolic material that easily replaces structural aluminum backing plates in fiberglass lamination applications. This product also does not present a reaction with stainless steel fasteners, which eliminates galvanic corrosion. AquaSteel® offers outstanding screw retention and compression strength, which makes it ideal for either through bolted or drilled and taped fastening methods.

• Bow Rails • Swim Platforms
• Bow Eyes
• Trolling Motors
• Hard Tops
• T-Tops
• Blind Fasteners
• Engine Blocks
• Seat Mounts
• Cleats

AquaSteel® is engineered for easy, no prep, lamination. It requires no sanding/grinding or solvent wipe down. Simply bed AquaSteel® into wetted fiberglass for open molded parts, or replace current aluminum backing plates for close molded or infused parts. AquaSteel® can be drilled and taped in the same manner as aluminum.

MARINE SPECIFIC DATA
Soak - 0.75%
Swell - 0.57%
#14 Screw Retention (PSI) - 5284
1/4-20 Bolt Retention (PS) - 5923

MACHINING INFORMATION

AquaSteel® is generally drilled using High Speed Steel bits with diamond or carbide tips with a cutting angle of 60 degrees. Bits designed for perforating fiberglass or metal may also be used. It is recommended that all holes have an inset of 1” from the outer perimeter. Most applications encapsulate AquaSteel® blocks between layers of fiberglass laminates. If drilling without it being captured in laminates, a supporting sheet, such as plywood, must be used under the panel to ensure a clean hole and to eliminate “breakout”. When properly drilled, there should not be any chipping around the hole. Chipping may be a sign of a worn or dull bit, or excessive feed rate into the material.

AquaSteel® can be fabricated with computerized numeric control (CNC) machines. The below recommendations must be monitored throughout the fabrication process to ensure optimal cutting/efficiency, as well as the quality of cut. Cutter and feed speed vary by thickness and suitable finish results.

BEAM SAW CUTTING RECOMMENDATIONS
Boom Pressure - 8 Bar
Feed Rate - 29 m/m
Speed - 3,600 rpm
Blade - Hook Tooth Type, +15º, 72 teeth; Triple Chip Grind (TCG); Carbide Tipped

CNC CUTTING RECOMMENDATIONS
Material Thickness - 8mm, 10mm, and 13mm
Spindle Speed - 14,000 - 18,000 rpm
Feed Rate - 100-150 in/min (2.54-3.81m/m)
Bit - Onsurd Phenolic Cutter, 67-200 series

CNC DRILLING RECOMMENDATIONS
Bit Diameter - 1/4” - 3/8”
Spindle Speed - 4,000 - 5,000 rpm
Feed Rate - 50 in/min