THERMAL INSULATING ELEMENT, A SUBSEA STRUCTURE SUCH AS AN ARMOURED UNBONDED FLEXIBLE PIPE COMPRISING SUCH AN ELEMENT, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING SUCH AN ELEMENT AND SUCH A PIPE

摘要

The invention relates to a thermal insulating element. The element comprises a base material comprising one first series of hole configurations, said first series comprising a plurality of elongated interior holes. Each comprises a central hole axis (A) along its elongation, each central hole axis extending substantially mutually in parallel to each other along a first longitudinal direction. Each hole in a plane perpendicular to the first general longitudinal direction comprises a cross sectional hole shape. The elastic modulus E of said base material along said first longitudinal direction is equal to or larger than 1.5 GPa. The thermal insulating element is suitable for varying and high pressure environments. Further, the invention relates to armored unbonded flexible pipes comprising such a thermal insulating element. Further, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing such an element and a method of manufacturing such an armored unbonded flexible pipe.