How to apply gel coat with a spray gun
– Polyester gelcoat for the manufacture of molds laminated with glass fibers. – High viscosity paint based on polyester resin. – It can be applied by brush, roller or spray (it must be previously diluted with Styrene Monomer). – It is applied inside the mold and then laminated on it.- Gloss finish.- Mixing: 1%-2% catalyst by weight. – Curing time: 3-4h
– Polyester gelcoat for the manufacture of molds laminated with glass fibers. – High viscosity paint based on polyester resin. – It can be applied by brush, roller or spray (it must be previously diluted with Styrene Monomer). – It is applied inside the mold and then laminated on it.- Gloss finish.- Mixing: 1%-2% catalyst by weight. – Curing time: 3-4h
– Polyester topcoat for coating models and molds laminated with fiberglass – High viscosity polyester resin based paint. – It can be applied either by brush or roller….
Isophthalic gel coat
Definition: Gel coat is a material prepared exclusively for working with fiberglass or resin. It is a polyester paint, made of resin, which has within its composition different materials to suit every occasion.
When finishing and having all the materials dry, we can proceed to the demolding of the piece. In which we will see that the gel coat adheres totally to the fiber generating a totally smooth texture and of the color that we have chosen.
In a repair: In the case of using the gel coat in a repair it will be done in the inverse way to the previous mentioned. First the repair is made with fiberglass and resin and once dry the patch is sanded until it is completely smooth. Once sanded and clean the area of the repair we can proceed to the application of the gel coat to achieve a completely smooth finish.
-With blowtorch: To apply the gel coat with blowtorch we need that the same one has a mouth of 3 millimeters. It will always have to be diluted previously with styrene monomer or acetone (between %20 and %30 the dissolution). After the dilution is done, the catalyst will be applied between %1 and 2% depending on the temperature and ambient humidity. Always preparing 1/2 of kg at the most, so that we have time to apply it. Once the work is finished, the torch should be disassembled and cleaned with acetone. When giving a first coat, if we see that it did not cover the material well, we can give a second coat without having to wait for it to dry.
Nautical Gelcoat
Fiberglass reinforced plastic (hereinafter F.R.P.R.P.) as we already know is a very noble material and because of this its use is very wide in several fields with highly satisfactory results. However, in the nautical industry, swimming pools, and tanks of all kinds, there have been verified problems of blistering on the surface of the F.G.F.P.
In general, when faced with a problem of this type, the responsibility for it falls on the gelcoat. Accepting this as valid is the same as believing that the Sun revolves around the Earth, of course, in this case we know that it is the Earth that revolves around the Sun, because we have a notion of the UNIVERSE.
In the case of the P.R.F.V. our universe is that of COMPOUND MATERIALS, what does this mean? That the characteristics of a composite material will be the result of each and every one of its component materials.
Micropore in the gelcoat: It is a thixotropic material (not easily drained) this property allows you to paint vertical surfaces with ease, but in turn, has the disadvantage of incorporating the air that is mixed when it is shaken vigorously and when it passes through the nozzle of the spray gun. This incorporated air is trapped inside the gelcoat and the permeability of the gelcoat is very high.
How to prepare gel coat for painting
Gelcoat is a material used to provide a high quality finish on the visible surface of a composite polymeric material. The most common gelcoats are based on epoxy resins or unsaturated polyester resins. Gelcoats are modified resins that are applied to molds in a liquid state. They are cured to the form of cross-linked polymers and subsequently coated with composite polymer matrices, often blends of polyester resin and glass fiber or epoxy resin with glass or carbon fiber. The fabricated component, once cured and removed from the mold, has the gelcoat layer on the surface. This is usually pigmented to provide a colored, glossy surface that enhances the aesthetic appearance of the article.
Specialized gelcoats can be used for the manufacture of molds which in turn are used for the manufacture of components. These require very high levels of strength to overcome the mechanical and thermal stresses produced during the curing and demolding processes.