Impact Resistance Properties

Bellcomb panels can be designed to take impacts according to your needs. There are many material options for both the skins and core of your panel. The total requirements for performance will determine the material choices and exact specification. The thickness of the skin and the density or cell size of the core all directly influence impact resistance. Other factors must be taken into account as well: What is your weight requirement? Will the panel need to be painted? Will it be subjected to harsh environmental conditions? This is where Bellcomb offers you so much. You talk and we listen; we ask you questions and you describe your problem. We truly offer a customer engineered solution using structural composite lightweight panels.

SKIN MATERIALS

The most important component in the area of impact resistance is generally the skin. The specific density of the material used will influence a panel's performance, so metals and polymers are often the best options. Steel is more impact resistant than Aluminum, but it weighs more. Polymers, including many plastics and laminates, also offer very good performance in resisting denting impact. Surprisingly, wood is also a quality material for impact resistance, although it has drawbacks related to moisture resistance and fire resistance. Woven fiberglass is the best skin material selection when it comes to minimizing denting impact.

Highest rated skin materials for impact resistance:

• Woven Fiberglass
• Steel
• Stainless Steel
• Plywood
• Plastic Sheet (ABS, Polypropylene, Kydex™, etc.)

CORE MATERIALS

Core materials play a minor role to skin materials when it comes to boosting impact resistance, although the core will still deliver performance in some applications. If the expected impact is severe enough that it will undoubtedly require the core to provide support to the skin, given weight restrictions, the best selection of core will be polypropylene and foam cores such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foam, Urethane and Polyethylene.

Highest rated core materials for impact resistance:

• Polypropylene Honeycomb
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foam
• Polyurethane foam
• Urethane Foam Filled Kraft honeycomb

Our professionals are ready to discreetly work through your specific panel application requirements to find the best possible panel solution. Call us at 763-537-0200 or e-mail us at sales@bellcomb.com and see how Bellcomb can help you.