Voltage Vessels Introduces a New Craft
On May 27, 2023, the Hawaii-based U.S. company Voltage Vessels unveiled a six-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) produced through 3D printing with a material called Eclipse X9. This substance is a recycled PETG thermoplastic reinforced with crushed basalt fiber, delivering high strength and significantly cutting production time. The technology allows boats to be printed near military deployment sites, reducing the replacement time for damaged vessels from weeks to just days.
Eclipse X9 Material Properties
Eclipse X9 was engineered specifically for large-format printing. According to tests conducted by the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, it achieves a tensile strength of roughly 108 megapascals. For comparison, the benchmark composite HDPro reached only 49 megapascals. After more than two years of exposure to saltwater, the material retained over 90% of its strength, with water absorption remaining below 0.4%. Additionally, the basalt fiber’s low electrical conductivity enhances safety and reliability.
Voltage Vessels aims to scale production to approximately 15,000 tons of material per year. To support this, new manufacturing hubs are planned in the Indo-Pacific region. The material can also be recycled by grinding and reprocessing, underscoring the environmental safety of these innovations in shipbuilding.
This development was reported by Interesting Engineering and noted by Defense Blog.
The adoption of 3D printing in shipbuilding could fundamentally transform how marine vessels are produced, especially for military use. Faster manufacturing and the ability to quickly replace damaged boats in combat zones enhance the speed and effectiveness of military operations. The recyclability of the material also aligns with global sustainability trends, offering an eco-friendly edge in modern production.