I want to make a board with polyester resin, but I'm not sure what additives I need.
To harden (= polymerize), polyester resin requires a catalyst. You can choose to use two types of catalysts: a liquid PMEK catalyst (classic), or a UV catalyst which allows you to increase your working time since the polymerization will only take place when your board is presented in the rays of the sun.
The PMEK catalyst is generally preferred. It allows rapid polymerization of the polyester resin. Depending on the ambient temperature of your work room - never below 16 degrees, and preferably below 30° - add 1 to 2% of catalyst for your resin to gel in around 15 minutes. Warning: less than 1% and your resin could never dry completely and make sanding impossible; more than 2% and you may not have time to properly complete your stratification. Follow the instructions carefully!
UV catalyst can replace PMEK. It allows the polyester resin to polymerize by exposing it to UV rays from the sun, or those from UV lamps (recommended wavelength: 364nm). Infinite gel time as long as the resin is not exposed to sunlight; it is therefore an ideal alternative for “stress-free” laminating. Be careful not to work in a room exposed to light, otherwise the resin will harden prematurely during your work.
Paraffinized styrene must be added at 3% during the “hot-coat” stage. It allows sanding of the resin.
The styrene monomer allows it to fluidize the resin for “finish coat” / “gloss”, or when the resin is a little too thick.
The PMEK catalyst is generally preferred. It allows rapid polymerization of the polyester resin. Depending on the ambient temperature of your work room - never below 16 degrees, and preferably below 30° - add 1 to 2% of catalyst for your resin to gel in around 15 minutes. Warning: less than 1% and your resin could never dry completely and make sanding impossible; more than 2% and you may not have time to properly complete your stratification. Follow the instructions carefully!
UV catalyst can replace PMEK. It allows the polyester resin to polymerize by exposing it to UV rays from the sun, or those from UV lamps (recommended wavelength: 364nm). Infinite gel time as long as the resin is not exposed to sunlight; it is therefore an ideal alternative for “stress-free” laminating. Be careful not to work in a room exposed to light, otherwise the resin will harden prematurely during your work.
Paraffinized styrene must be added at 3% during the “hot-coat” stage. It allows sanding of the resin.
The styrene monomer allows it to fluidize the resin for “finish coat” / “gloss”, or when the resin is a little too thick.
Updated on: 04/01/2024
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