Composite Cores | McMaster-Carr

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Silicon Carbide Ceramic

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43 Products

About Plastic

Compare over 25 types of plastic to find the right material for you.

Rigid PVC Foam Cores

Plain

Scored Texture

Add stiffness to composite sandwiches without adding a lot of weight. These cores are lighter in weight than balsa wood and aluminum honeycomb cores, but not as strong. Their cross-linked foam polymers, however, make them stronger and more durable than PET foam cores. All of these cores are moisture resistant and offer good sound insulation. Use them in composite layups, structural panels, partitions, and industrial tanks.

Scored Texture—Scored cores have cuts in a grid pattern that make them easier to bend and form into complex shapes than plain cores.

	Lg.	Max. Temp., ° F	Tensile Strength, psi	Color		Each
Plain







			3/8" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

			40"	86"	170	370	Green	5911N31	0000000




					1/2" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

					40"	86"	170	370	Green	5911N32	000000


					45"	96"	170	300	Yellow	5911N12	000000




							5/8" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

							40"	86"	170	370	Green	5911N33	000000




									3/4" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

									40"	86"	170	370	Green	5911N34	000000




											1" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

											45"	96"	170	300	Yellow	5911N15	000000




													1 1/4" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

													40"	86"	170	370	Green	5911N36	000000


													45"	96"	170	300	Yellow	5911N16	000000




															1 1/2" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

															45"	96"	170	300	Yellow	5911N17	000000




																	1 3/4" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

40"																	86"	170	370	Green	5911N38	000000




	2" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

	45"	96"															170	300	Yellow	5911N19	000000


	Scored Texture







																	3/8" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

																	45"	48"	170	300	Yellow	5911N21	000000




						1/2" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

						45"												48"	170	300	Yellow	5911N22	000000




							3/4" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

							45"	48"											170	300	Yellow	5911N24	000000




									1" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)

									45"	48"									170	300	Yellow	5911N25	000000

Balsa Wood Cores

Lighter in weight than any other wood, yet still strong, these balsa cores stiffen composite sandwiches without weighing them down. They resist damage from impact and repeated use. Because they don’t let heat or sound pass through quickly, these cores are good natural insulators. They also resist chemicals. All come from balsa trees grown in FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified forests.

Rigid

Rigid cores are often used in panels for partitions, industrial tanks, and other stiff structures.

Cannot Be Sold to Canada—They cannot be sold to Canada due to import regulations.

Thk.	Wd.	Lg.	Compressive Strength, psi	Temp. Range, ° F	Cannot Be Sold To		Each
1/4"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N122	000000
3/8"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N123	00000
1/2"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N124	00000
5/8"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N125	00000
3/4"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N126	00000
1"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N127	00000
2"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N132	00000

Flexible with Fiberglass Fabric Reinforcement

Image of Product. Front orientation. Wood. Balsa Wood Cores, Flexible.

Flexible cores are best for forming complex shapes.

Cannot Be Sold to Canada—They cannot be sold to Canada due to import regulations.

Thk.	Wd.	Lg.	Compressive Strength, psi	Temp. Range, ° F	Cannot Be Sold To		Each
1/4"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N111	000000
3/8"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N112	00000
1/2"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N113	00000
3/4"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N115	00000
1"	24"	48"	1,500	-100 to 325	Canada	7810N116	00000

Lightweight PET Foam Cores

When exposed to UV rays, these cores won’t become brittle or break down. Use them to add stiffness to composite sandwiches that may be used outdoors without adding a lot of weight. All of these cores are lighter in weight than PVC, balsa wood, and aluminum honeycomb cores, but not as strong. They’re also moisture resistant and recyclable. These cores are often used in composite layups, structural panels, partitions, and industrial tanks. You can even soften them with heat, place them into a mold, and then cool them to create a variety of different shapes. Those with a higher density are stiffer, stronger, and weigh more than those with a lower density.

	Lg.	Fabrication	Min. Temp.	Max. Temp., ° F	Tensile Strength, psi	Impact Strength	Color		Each
3/8" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)



	48"	96"	Extruded	Not Rated	300	260	Not Rated	Green	6899N51	0000000


	1/2" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)



			48"	96"	Extruded	Not Rated	300	260	Not Rated	Green	6899N52	000000


			48"	96"	Extruded	Not Rated	300	320	Not Rated	Green	6899N56	000000


			5/8" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)



					48"	96"	Extruded	Not Rated	300	320	Not Rated	Green	6899N57	000000


					1" Thick (-0.02" to 0.02" Tolerance)



							48"	96"	Extruded	Not Rated	300	260	Not Rated	Green	6899N54	000000


							48"	96"	Extruded	Not Rated	300	320	Not Rated	Green	6899N58	000000

High-Temperature Acid-Resistant Silicon-Carbide Ceramic Foam

A silicon carbide coating over a carbon foam base combines the hardness, chemical resistance, and high temperatures silicon carbide is known for with the lightweight versaitility of foam. It’s often used for cores in composite layers and to filter molten metal and corrosive liquids.

The silicon carbide coating acts as a thermal conductor, transferring heat to quickly cool liquids that pass through. Known for its hardness, silicon carbide won’t break down from repeated abrasion. However, because it’s so hard, this material is more brittle than plain carbon foam and less impact resistant than balsa wood, PET, and PVC foam cores.

Acids and bases can’t penetrate the silicon carbide coating, even at high temperatures. Instead, contaminants stick to the surface, making it a great filter for corrosive liquids and environmental pollutants such as exhaust. If using this material as a filter, choose a foam with more pores per inch for a slower flow rate, and a foam with fewer pores per inch for a faster flow rate.

If you cut this material, the underlying carbon foam is exposed. Carbon foam does not have the temperature range and chemical resistance of its silicon carbide coating, so it will break down more quickly at exposed points.

						3" × 3"		6" × 6"
Thk.	Thk. Tolerance	Pores per In.	Color	Max. Temp., ° F	Compressive Strength, psi		Each		Each
1/8"	-0.010" to 0.010"	60	Gray	3,000	200	6716N112	0000000	6716N115	0000000
1/8"	-0.010" to 0.010"	100	Gray	3,000	200	6716N111	000000	6716N114	000000
1/4"	-0.010" to 0.010"	20	Gray	3,000	200	6716N119	000000	6716N123	00000000
1/4"	-0.010" to 0.010"	60	Gray	3,000	200	6716N118	000000	6716N122	00000000
1/4"	-0.010" to 0.010"	100	Gray	3,000	200	6716N117	000000	6716N121	00000000