Composite propellers are made of an extremely strong, high-tech material. These propeller

Propeller

A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...

s are produced using an injection molding

Injection molding

Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity...

 process, which guarantees a high quality propeller every time. The composite propeller is a lightweight and environmentally friendly boat propeller. When a composite propeller hits debris, the propeller absorbs the impact energy, instead of transferring it to the lower unit; therefore, providing more protection for the drive train. Corrosion

Corrosion

Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...

 from salt water

Salt water

Salt water or saltwater may refer to:* Saline water, water containing salts* Brine, with salt* Brackish water, water that is saltier than fresh water, but not as salty as seawater* Seawater, water from oceans or seas...

, and electrolysis

Electrolysis

In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of using a direct electric current to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction...

 are nonexistent with composite material.

Advantages

Lower unit protection is the primary advantage of composite materials. While the initial cost of a composite propeller is usually comparable to aluminum, it is significantly less than a stainless steel

Stainless steel

In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....

 propeller. Additionally, replacement blades offer significant savings over metal propeller repairs. Another advantage to using composite propellers is that it is a lightweight material. Composite material is about half the weight of aluminum and 1/6 the weight of stainless steel propeller. A lightweight propeller reduces the amount of wear and tear on the entire boat.

Effect on the Environment

Composite propellers are 100% recyclable

Recycling

Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...

and can help preserve the environment. Recycled propellers reduce material and energy costs for manufacturers allowing for lower costs for consumers.

External links

• Living in a Material World at piranhapropellers.com