Oceanographic mooring buoyancy
| Density : | 0.39g/cm³ |
| Size : | φ1100mm |
| Depth : | 1000m |
| Application Areas : | Oceanographic mooring system |
Epoxy-based microsphere solid buoyancy material is the core advanced material of the buoyancy in the current oceanographic mooring system.
The function of the oceanographic mooring buoyancy
In the moored current meter system, the oceanographic mooring buoyancy is located at the top of the system (usually at a depth of tens of meters to several kilometers underwater), and its main function is:
Provide positive buoyancy: Balance the weight of the instrument chain below (such as current meters, CTDs, acoustic Doppler current profilers, etc.), anchor chain, release mechanism, etc., to keep the system in a vertically taut state in the water.
Maintain attitude and depth: Ensure that all measuring instruments are at the predetermined water level to guarantee data quality.
As a structural center: it bears the connection loads of mooring cables, instrument connectors, and release devices.
Introduction to Epoxy-based Microsphere Solid Buoyancy Materials
This is a composite foam material made up of an epoxy resin matrix and hollow glass beads (or polymer beads). Its core principle is to use a large number of tiny closed hollow spheres to provide low density, while high-strength resin provides mechanical support.
Typical structural forms of the oceanographic mooring buoyancy
The oceanographic mooring buoyancy made of epoxy microsphere material is commonly found in the following configurations:
Single cylindrical body: The central through-hole penetrates the main cable, and the upper and lower ends are connected to the instrument and the anchor system, which is the most commonly used.
Multi-module combined buoyancy: Multiple buoyancy blocks are assembled on a frame, which is convenient for transportation and replacement.
Streamlined fairing + internal buoyancy blocks: used in strong current sea areas to reduce vortex-induced vibration.
Spherical or ellipsoidal: isotropic pressure resistance, commonly used in full-ocean-depth or ultra-deep-water moored subsurface buoys.
The outer surface of the oceanographic mooring buoyancy is usually coated with polyurea elastomer to enhance its anti-wear and anti-biofouling capabilities.
Key Points of Engineering Application
Buoyancy margin design: The total buoyancy is usually 1.2 to 1.5 times the weight in air, ensuring that the system has a certain margin of buoyancy to compensate for long-term losses such as biofouling and water absorption of materials.
Deployment and recovery: Due to its large buoyancy, when recovering, the releaser needs to disengage from the anchor block first, and the subsurface mooring will rise to the sea surface by its own buoyancy.
Service life: The designed service life of high-quality epoxy microsphere floaters in seawater can reach 5 to 10 years or even longer.
The function of the oceanographic mooring buoyancy
In the moored current meter system, the oceanographic mooring buoyancy is located at the top of the system (usually at a depth of tens of meters to several kilometers underwater), and its main function is:
Provide positive buoyancy: Balance the weight of the instrument chain below (such as current meters, CTDs, acoustic Doppler current profilers, etc.), anchor chain, release mechanism, etc., to keep the system in a vertically taut state in the water.
Maintain attitude and depth: Ensure that all measuring instruments are at the predetermined water level to guarantee data quality.
As a structural center: it bears the connection loads of mooring cables, instrument connectors, and release devices.
Introduction to Epoxy-based Microsphere Solid Buoyancy Materials
This is a composite foam material made up of an epoxy resin matrix and hollow glass beads (or polymer beads). Its core principle is to use a large number of tiny closed hollow spheres to provide low density, while high-strength resin provides mechanical support.
Typical structural forms of the oceanographic mooring buoyancy
The oceanographic mooring buoyancy made of epoxy microsphere material is commonly found in the following configurations:
Single cylindrical body: The central through-hole penetrates the main cable, and the upper and lower ends are connected to the instrument and the anchor system, which is the most commonly used.
Multi-module combined buoyancy: Multiple buoyancy blocks are assembled on a frame, which is convenient for transportation and replacement.
Streamlined fairing + internal buoyancy blocks: used in strong current sea areas to reduce vortex-induced vibration.
Spherical or ellipsoidal: isotropic pressure resistance, commonly used in full-ocean-depth or ultra-deep-water moored subsurface buoys.
The outer surface of the oceanographic mooring buoyancy is usually coated with polyurea elastomer to enhance its anti-wear and anti-biofouling capabilities.
Key Points of Engineering Application
Buoyancy margin design: The total buoyancy is usually 1.2 to 1.5 times the weight in air, ensuring that the system has a certain margin of buoyancy to compensate for long-term losses such as biofouling and water absorption of materials.
Deployment and recovery: Due to its large buoyancy, when recovering, the releaser needs to disengage from the anchor block first, and the subsurface mooring will rise to the sea surface by its own buoyancy.
Service life: The designed service life of high-quality epoxy microsphere floaters in seawater can reach 5 to 10 years or even longer.
| Microsphere buoyancy material performance table | |||||
| Item | Model | Density | Depth | Water absorption | Compressive strength |
| (g/cm³) | (m) | （24H） | (MPa) | ||
| Standard Performance Buoyancy | HJ-036 | 0.36±0.01 | ≤500 | ≤1% | ≥16 |
| HJ-038 | 0.38±0.01 | 800 | ≤1% | ≥21 | |
| HJ-043 | 0.43±0.02 | 1000 | ≤1% | ≥24 | |
| HJ-045 | 0.45±0.02 | 1500 | ≤1% | ≥28 | |
| HJ-051 | 0.51±0.02 | 3000 | ≤1% | ≥56 | |
| HJ-054 | 054±0.02 | 4000 | ≤1% | ≥60 | |
| HJ-058 | 0.58±0.02 | 5000 | ≤1% | ≥85 | |
| HJ-063 | 0.63±0.02 | 6000 | ≤1% | ≥110 | |
| High performance Buoyancy |
HJ42H | 0.42±0.01 | 1500 | ≤1% | ≥30 |
| HJ45H | 0.45±0.01 | 2000 | ≤1% | ≥35 | |
| HJ48H | 0.48±0.01 | 3000 | ≤1% | ≥50 | |
| HJ51H | 0.50±0.01 | 4000 | ≤1% | ≥60 | |
| HJ54H | 0.54±0.01 | 5000 | ≤1% | ≥80 | |
| HJ56H | 0.56±0.01 | 6000 | ≤1% | ≥96 | |
| HJ58H | 0.58±0.01 | 7000 | ≤1% | ≥112 | |
| HJ63H | 0.63±0.01 | 9000 | ≤1% | ≥140 | |
| HJ68H | 0.68±0.01 | 11500 | ≤1% | ≥170 | |
