Author(s)

A. Macander, S. Han and D. Johnson

Abstract

Composite intake and exhaust louvers for marine applications A. Macander*, S. Han* & D. Johnson^ ^ Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, USA ^Ebert Composites Corporation, USA Abstract Commercial, naval ships, as well as other marine transport vessels use heavy, multi-blade steel weather louvers to cover their intake and exhaust openings to the outside. Costly time, labor and materials are constantly expended to protect and maintain these steel louvers from the corrosive effects of the sea environment. Louvers made from fiber-reinforced plastic composite materials such as fiberglass are low in weight and can eliminate corrosion and deterioration caused by salt-laden moisture and ship-stack exhaust gases. The use of weather tight non-metallic composite louvers will also eliminate galvanic corrosion problems due to inadequate louver-to-bulkhead attachment practices. Such low maintenance louvers will provide reliable operation and will eliminate the

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