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The article on this stuff was in the April 1999 edition of Kitplanes.  The technical description of this stuff is "rigid, open-pore reticulated polyurethane foam".  The article makes a point of mentioning that this stuff is not a metal mesh. Explo-Safe is (was) one of the name brands.  I believe this stuff was originally used on helicopter gunships to prevent the fuel tanks from exploding when hit.  I know that NASCAR and SCCA has mandated the use of this stuff or something similar.  According to one of the companies that sell this stuff, it's used in just about everything the military flies "such as C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orions, fighter aircraft such as F-4s, F-5s, F-14s, F-15s, F-18s, A-10s, A-37s, and the T-1A trainer" (I guess the Air Force found one that doesn't cause engine stoppages).

I planned on using this stuff, at least until I heard about the water retention. I'll have to do some more research on it. Since I can't afford to use titanium for my fuel system, if some future fuel is corrosive enough to trash this stuff, I can't imagine what it would do to the rest of my fuel system.  If this stuff can stand up to JP-5, it should have no problem with anything I can afford.

One of the companies listed in the article is Crest Foam Industries  www.crestfoam.com  (That's the only one with a web site)

Gary

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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.