Marine Construction Material: Cunifer

By Maicel Durocher


There are construction supplies that are acceptable when used on land, but don't normally make the cut when used in sea. Building materials like wood and metal are heavy-duty, but if they're going to be used for structures regularly immersed in saltwater, such as boats and ships, then they would corrode in just a short time. That's why many shipbuilders consider Cunifer.

Cunifer is a copper alloy made of 3 components, which are copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe). It's specifically created to be used in ships, vessels, and other structures and transportation devices that come in contact with saltwater. A cunifer material specification that is crucial to ships is its high resistance to seawater decomposition. Unlike other metals, Cunifer undergoes a chemical reaction when it's subjected to seawater. It develops a film layer to protect itself from corrosion. It also retains its corrosion resistance quality after welding.

And unlike other construction supplies like wood, it doesn't allow the buildup of sea biological organisms on its exterior. This is known as biological fouling or biofouling, which is what happens when biological organisms build up on the surface of another matter. This commonly shows up on the hulls of ships and even the submerged wooden posts of piers. Rather than stick on the exterior of the Cunifer, biofouling creatures, such as barnacles and mussels, just slide off the exterior when subjected to running water.

The problem with Cunifer is that it is not cheap. Though it is an ideal shipbuilding material, the initial cost isn't as low as the others. However, it's also low maintenance, which helps make up for the initial cost. There are other advantages of Cunifer too. It requires fewer periodic cleaning just to get rid of the buildups, and it doesn't need to be covered with antifouling coatings since organisms adhere very poorly to it. Because it doesn't deteriorate, its plating can be thinner.

But just like most copper alloys, Cunifer is prone to staining due to the formation of oxides. It can be coated with a chromate-based cleansing agent, though, that can give the material a matte and gold-tinted look. But this treatment is considered costly, that's why it's not always applied.




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