What material is this? Plastic or hard rubber?

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SUMMARY

The material in question, used as a boat buffer, is likely a baulk of recycled mixed plastics, based on visual clues such as rub marks and the square-edged form. The discussion emphasizes the commonality and cost-effectiveness of using such materials in marine applications. While there is some uncertainty regarding the exact composition, the characteristics observed strongly suggest plastic or hard rubber rather than metal.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of material properties in marine applications
  • Familiarity with recycled plastics and their uses
  • Knowledge of visual inspection techniques for material identification
  • Basic concepts of boat construction and components
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and applications of recycled mixed plastics in marine environments
  • Explore techniques for identifying materials through visual inspection
  • Learn about the manufacturing processes of boat buffers and their material choices
  • Investigate the environmental impact of using recycled materials in marine applications
USEFUL FOR

Marine engineers, boat builders, material scientists, and anyone involved in the selection of components for marine applications will benefit from this discussion.

Andros123
Used as a boat buffer.
 

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Andros123 said:
What material is this? Plastic or hard rubber
Yeah, based on that pic, I'd guess that it's probably one or the other.
 
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phinds said:
Yeah, based on that pic, I'd guess that it's probably one or the other.
Yes, i kind of guessed that.
 
Best guess would be that it is a baulk of recycled mixed plastics .

Very common in this sort of application and relatively very cheap .

There are some useful clues in the rub marks and especially in that circular hole .

Also a further clue in the reasonably accurate square edged form of the baulk .
 
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Andros123 said:
Yes, i kind of guessed that.
My point was that based on nothing but that pic, it could be damned near anything. I couldn't even rule out metal just based on the pic.
 
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