3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core vs. Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa
3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core (3A Composites) and Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa (3A Composites) achieve a 78.5% ASTM engineering compatibility score in Structural Sandwich Cores (PVC, SAN, PET Foam & End-Grain Balsa). Tensile strength delta is -10.5 MPa (-80.2%) and thermal HDT delta is -13.9 °C, making them interchangeable with post-cure temperature and viscosity flow adjustments.
Side-by-Side ASTM Mechanical, Thermal, Rheological & Pricing Delta
| ASTM Parameter | A: 3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core (3A Composites) | B: Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa (3A Composites) | Engineering Delta (A vs. B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM Manufacturer & SKU | 3A Composites • 3AC-T92-100-20MM | 3A Composites • 3AC-SB100-34IN | Same OEM Portfolio |
| ASTM D638 Tensile Strength (MPa / PSI) | 2.6 MPa (377 psi) | 13.1 MPa (1,900 psi) | -10.5 MPa (-80.2 %) |
| ASTM D648 Heat Deflection Temp (HDT °C / °F) | 135 °C (275 °F) | 148.9 °C (300 °F) | -13.9 °C (Verify Post-Cure) |
| ASTM D790 Flexural Strength (MPa) | 3.4 MPa | 19 MPa | -15.6 MPa (-82.1 %) |
| ASTM D2583 Barcol Hardness | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| ASTM D2196 Brookfield Viscosity @ 25°C | Solid Reinforcement / Core | 9 cPs | Solid State |
| Gel Time @ 25°C (Minutes) | N/A | 35 min | N/A |
| ASTM D792 Specific Density (kg/m³) | 100 kg/m³ | 1120 kg/m³ | -1020 kg/m³ |
| US DOT 49 CFR & TDG Hazmat Class | Non-Regulated (N/A) | Non-Hazmat Standard Freight (N/A) | Identical (N/A) |
| Unit Price ($/kg USD) & Pack Price | $18.2/kg • $138 (Sheet 1220x2440x20mm (Grooved & Perforated)) | $0.59/kg • $118 (ContourKore Sheet) | +17.61 $/kg (+2984.7 %) |
| US Stocking Warehouses | Statesville, NC • Tampa, FL • Minneapolis, MN | FL • TX • LA • MN | 1–3 Days LTL Dispatch |
Companion process stack: Structural Core-Bonding Putty (0.55 kg/m² kerf fill) + Marine Vinyl Ester or Infusion Epoxy Matrix. Follow CORE BEDDING & RESIN UPTAKE: Grid-scored (GS) or grooved/perforated (GP) sheets require ~0.55 kg/m² extra resin for kerf/groove filling or a dedicated structural core-bonding putty.
Post-Cure Schedule Adjustment Advised: ASTM D648 HDT differs by 13.9 °C (135 °C vs. 148.9 °C). For elevated-temperature tooling or dark-colored marine hulls, perform a 4–6 hour post-cure ramp at 60–80 °C (140–176 °F) to lock in full cross-link density.
Identical Hazmat Logistics Profile: Both SKUs ship under US DOT 49 CFR & Transport Canada TDG as Non-Regulated (UN Number: N/A). Note 49 CFR § 177.848 segregation if ordering with Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides (UN3105).
Engineering FAQ: 3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core vs. Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa
1. Is 3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core a direct drop-in equivalent for Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa?▼
3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core (3A Composites) and Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa (3A Composites) achieve a 78.5% ASTM engineering compatibility score in Structural Sandwich Cores (PVC, SAN, PET Foam & End-Grain Balsa). Tensile strength delta is -10.5 MPa (-80.2%) and thermal HDT delta is -13.9 °C, making them interchangeable with post-cure temperature and viscosity flow adjustments.
2. What is the ASTM D638 Tensile Strength and ASTM D648 HDT difference between 3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core and Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa?▼
3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core (3A Composites) delivers ASTM D638 Tensile Strength of 2.6 MPa (377 psi) and ASTM D648 HDT of 135 °C, whereas Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa (3A Composites) delivers 13.1 MPa (1,900 psi) and HDT of 148.9 °C. The net delta is -10.5 MPa (-80.2 %) tensile and -13.9 °C HDT.
3. Do 3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core and Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa use the same catalyst or hardener cure system?▼
Companion process stack: Structural Core-Bonding Putty (0.55 kg/m² kerf fill) + Marine Vinyl Ester or Infusion Epoxy Matrix. Follow CORE BEDDING & RESIN UPTAKE: Grid-scored (GS) or grooved/perforated (GP) sheets require ~0.55 kg/m² extra resin for kerf/groove filling or a dedicated structural core-bonding putty. Post-Cure Schedule Adjustment Advised: ASTM D648 HDT differs by 13.9 °C (135 °C vs. 148.9 °C). For elevated-temperature tooling or dark-colored marine hulls, perform a 4–6 hour post-cure ramp at 60–80 °C (140–176 °F) to lock in full cross-link density.
4. How do US DOT 49 CFR Hazmat shipping rules and B2B drum/pack prices compare between 3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core and Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa?▼
Identical Hazmat Logistics Profile: Both SKUs ship under US DOT 49 CFR & Transport Canada TDG as Non-Regulated (UN Number: N/A). Note 49 CFR § 177.848 segregation if ordering with Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides (UN3105). In US B2B distribution, 3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core is priced at $138 per Sheet 1220x2440x20mm (Grooved & Perforated) ($18.2/kg) vs. $118 per ContourKore Sheet ($0.59/kg) for Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa (delta: +17.61 USD/kg).
Related Drop-In Comparisons in Structural Sandwich Cores (PVC, SAN, PET Foam & End-Grain Balsa)
3A Composites Airex T92.100 Structural PET Foam Core (3A Composites) and Baltek® SB.100 End-Grain Balsa (3A Composites) are trademarks of their respective owners. CompositeMatrix Technologies Inc. is an independent North American B2B composite material intelligence registry; comparative ASTM D638, D648, D790, D2583, and D2196 figures are presented under the US legal doctrine of Nominative Fair Use (Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125) and Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. (499 U.S. 340) for scientific and industrial cross-reference. Cure schedules, exotherm behavior, and laminate qualification must be verified by a licensed Naval Architect or Professional Engineer (PE) against current manufacturer batch Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).