Hi! First time post and I'm hoping to get some recommendations.
First off, I own a custom canoe paddle company. To this point, I have been using epoxy thickened with silica and color pigment for tip protection on some of my paddles. This serves it's purpose and provides a nice hard tip to help protect the wooden paddle. However, thickened epoxy has no pliability and will crack over time with rough usage.
I'm wondering if anyone has some ideas on other additives that may offer more shock absorption and pliability. If not pliable, would there be a better material that may be harder and less "crackable" than the silica?
Another company, Bending Branches uses a urethane material derived from inline skate wheels, which makes me wonder about other possibilities.
Some ideas I had were ground tire rubber (http://www.quadratec.com/products/14066 ... AhGX8P8HAQ)
or the other extreme would be carbide steel powder?
Any help or thoughts would be appreciated....thanks!!!