The End of Hypalon ?

[Minggat]

What does this mean to those of us who have not yet bought that dink on our wish list?

Hypalon®

The DuPont Performance Elastomers Hypalon® business has ceased operations as of April 20, 2010. The planned closure was initially announced in 2009, and the plant operation was extended to support the needs of customers through the transition process.

[Blue Stocking]

I know of, and helped apply, Hypalon roof membranes that are still good after 30 yrs.
Its chemistry probably doesn't fit the new green technology, I'm guessing.

[GordMay]

DuPont says* the closure is due to low demand.
(“... significant deterioration of sales volume in all major regions and end-use market segments and our assessment that this business has ceased to be sustainable over the long-term ...”)

* Here ➥ Press Releases

[Hud3]

That's too bad. It's a great product, as are so many from DuPont. Now would be the time to buy a yard or two of Hypalon fabric to have on hand for dinghy repairs. Some chandleries sell it off a roll.

[hpeer]

I dunno, I think that there are more manufacturers of hypalon (chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) synthetic rubber (CSM)) than DuPont. Quite a bit of specialty cable is made of hypalon and I would be surprised to see it go away.

Anixter, a large cable manufacturer, has a press release on this topic. They seem to think that there are other suppliers and/or other similar products.

http://www.anixter.com/AXECOM/AXEDocLib.nsf/0/5ZEX7S2R/$file/DuPontDiscontinuingHyphalonJuneJuly09.pdf?openelem ent

Who knows, maybe DuPont is getting us ready for the next generation release: iPalon!

[Pete7]

Don't panic, the French make the stuff too:

PENNEL & FLIPO

Pete

[Vision]

No problem... if you have an old inflateable, like my own Brig...you just paint it with Coelan and vupti you have a new for the next 5-30 years...
Lars

[Brent Swain]

Patent probably expired. Expect lots of other sources to crop up

[MichaelC]

Was that the stuff that was on my Avon Redcrest, that rowed equally badly sideways as well as sort of forward, and that sailed down wind rapidly when the operator was trying to go to windward? Is that the stuff? I guess you could use it on a skin on frame kayak .... are the uses other than that as limited as it appears to me?

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Brent Swain

Patent probably expired. Expect lots of other sources to crop up

I'm no patent expert, but don't most patents expire after 20 years?

The Hypalon patent was granted in 1940.

[boris]

thats what happens if you make a product that is to good. my dinghy is 20 years old and still perfect

[nemoofsweden]

Hypalon seems to be the "sh-t". My dink is over 20 years and still going strong. Caribe!

[boris]

mine is only 18 years old and looks like it was made yesterday

[xxuxx]

My dinks prettier than your dink!! na,na,...na na naaaaaaaaaaa
Its got pink boobie tips

[Freddyboy]

Hello, anyone know where can I get the plugs for the old Avon A4 type 'volcano' valves?