![]() ![]() ![]() Gelcoat because it is polyester does not adhere on top of epoxy.Įpoxy resins come in Part A and Part B. For example, if you are doing a repair using epoxy, you cannot use polyester gel coat as the final layer. This means that if the original part that is being repaired was created with polyester resin, the epoxy repair will still adhere well to it. Also, as said above, epoxy can adhere to a polyester base. Polyester does not cure well in thin layers. This is because epoxy cures well in thin layers. Epoxy resin also has a much stronger bonding strength than polyester resins.Įpoxy resin is ideal for most fiberglass repairs that are not using gelcoat as the final layer. If moisture resistance is important, you will want to choose epoxy. Epoxy is a superior resin and is typically chosen when working with carbon and Kevlar reinforcements. It has much more flexural strength than polyester and has little to no shrinkage. Epoxy is ideal for high performance and light weight parts. Epoxy resin can also be used with fillers.Įpoxy resin is also a popular resin but it is liked for different reasons than the polyester resin. This will thicken the resin or create a putty. If polyester is used for a repair, fillers can be added. A finishing resin or waxed gelcoat can also be used to create a hard tack free finish. ![]() To get a final tack free surface, wax can be added to the last layer of polyester resin. This is because gel coats are polyester based and will not adhere to epoxy resin. If gel coat is added as the final layer in either a new construction or a repair, you will want to use polyester resin. So, if bonding strength is an important factor for the project, epoxy resin may need to be considered.īack to another upside, polyester is compatible with gel coat. Polyester resin also has a much lower bonding strength than epoxy. This can be avoided somewhat by using both mat and heavier duty fiberglass together with the resin. Polyester resin is more prone to microcracking than epoxy resin. The larger the part, the more shrinkage there will be. Polyester also has more shrinkage than epoxy. Polyester is more water permeable which means that over time a polyester laminate will allow more water to pass through it. It is also recommended to wear a mask, safety goggles and safety clothing when working with any resin.Īnother downside is that polyester resin has a lower moisture resistance than epoxy. It is very important to work in a well-ventilated area when using polyester resin. Polyester resin has styrene in it that is needed to break up the chopped strand mat binder. There are some specialty chopped strand mats out there that can be compatible with epoxy but they are harder to find. This is significant because epoxy resin is generally not compatible with chopped strand mat. Polyester resin is compatible with chopped strand mat. We recommend using between 1.25% to 1.75% (1 2/3 ounce to 2 1/3 ounce per gallon). With that being said, you do not want to add too much or too little MEKP to the resin. More or less MEKP can be added depending on how long of a pot life and working time is desired. There is also surfboard resin that is water clear, has UV resistance and has slightly more flex to help it resist impact damage.Īnother upside to polyester resin besides the cost and ease of use is that the cure time can be adjusted by how much MEKP catalyst is used. ISO is a superior grade resin that has a higher heat distortion, better tensile strength, and has more corrosion resistance than ortho grade. Ortho is better for repairs because of its adhesion characteristics. DCPD Polyester resin is the most economical. There are several types and grades of polyester resin. Big projects such as boat construction or sizeable decks generally use polyester resin because of the reasons listed above. This is a huge upside for large projects that will require several layers of fiberglass. It gets rid of the need to sand between layers. Most polyester resins cure with a surface tack which allows for better adhesion between layers. This is mainly because of the lower cost and the ease of use. Polyester resin is the most popular resin used in the industry. To help you decide which resin is best we have compiled a list of details along with pros and cons of each type of resin. Some of those factors depend on what your project will be, the size of the project you will be doing and what will be used for the final layer. There are many factors that go into choosing whether polyester or epoxy resin is best for your project. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |