Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Composite Materials Functions
- Technologies
- Product Families
Features & Benefits
- Product Highlights
- Easier, quicker gloss recovery (less buffing time to achieve gloss).
- Higher gloss recovery when polishing back aged or exposed gel coat surfaces.
- Higher gloss in the repair patch and surrounding refinished area.
- Higher gloss recoverability from lower gloss molds
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Recommended Applications
ArmorFlex® 953 gel coat should be mixed prior to use. This includes mixing before production spray applications and when obtaining material for patching or any material that has been set aside for patching. Use mixing equipment with sufficient horsepower (relative to container size) to achieve thorough circulation from top to bottom and out to the sides of the container. The agitator must be properly sized for the container and must allow for uniform mixing regardless of the liquid level in the container. It is typically sufficient to mix the gel coat once a day for 10 minutes. Air bubbling should not be used for mixing. It is not effective and only serves as a potential source of water or oil contamination. Do not over mix ArmorFlex® 953 gel coats. Over mixing can break down the gel coat viscosity increasing the tendency to sag.
ArmorFlex® gel coats achieve high performance properties through the incorporation of neopentyl glycol in the basic resin structure. Gel coats in the 953 series are higher molecular weight polymers than those in the 944 Series. This affects the handling and curing properties of the gel coat. The 953 gel coats require closer control of the application procedure than isophthalic gel coats, and may be harder to pump and spray. Slightly higher pumping pressures and atomizing air pressures are normally required than are typically necessary for isophthalic gel coats. Also, the balance of fluid flow, atomizing air and catalyst level is more critical.
Gel coats in the ArmorFlex® 953 Series are generally formulated for airless as well as conventional spray application. Brushing or rolling is not recommended. Refer to CCP’s online Application Guide, Open Molding: Conventional Gel Coat, application and equipment sections for additional information and recommendations. CCP recommends a gel coat delivery rate of no more than 2.5 pounds per minute with conventional air atomized equipment, and no more than 4 pounds per minute with airless equipment.
For optimum results, uniform catalyst mix must be achieved. Even with the equipment properly calibrated, potential problems can occur due to: poorly atomized catalyst; surging problems (gel coat or catalyst); poor tip alignment (catalyst to gel coat mix); contamination; and poor application procedures, which will quickly negate all benefits of calibration. The equipment (and application procedures) must be monitored on a routine basis to ensure proper application and cure of the gel coat. Ask about and adhere to all equipment manufacturers' recommendations.
For best overall end performance properties, a wet film thickness of 18 ± 2 mils is recommended as ideal. Films less than 12 mils may not cure properly, may be hard to patch, have more print-through, and are more susceptible to water blisters. Films above 24 mils may pre-release, trap porosity, or crack, and are more subject to weathering discoloration. If water blisters are of a great concern (boat hulls), 20 to 24 mils would perform better than a thinner film, but sag, porosity and cracking resistance could suffer. If weathering (yellowing from sunlight, decks) is of great concern, then thinner films (12 to 16 mils) would perform better, but patchability and resistance to print-through and blistering could suffer.
Proper mold maintenance is important. Although ArmorFlex® gel coats have excellent patching and buffback properties, minimal repair/refinish work is always desirable. Sanding and compounding can hasten the chalking and loss of gloss of all gel coats.
Properties
- Color
- Typical Properties
| Value | Units | Test Method / Conditions | |
| Sag Resistance | Good at 20 mils | — | — |
| Flash Point | 79-82 | °F | — |
| Gel Time | 13.0-17.0 | minutes | — |
| Lay-up Time | 45-80 | minutes | — |
| Viscosity | 13,000-19,000 | cps | — |
| Thixotropic Index (2/20) | 5.0-7.0 | — | — |
| Volatile Organic Compound | 33.0-37.0 | % | — |
| Weight per Gallon | 10.50-11.00 | lbs | — |
| Hide (Most Formulations) | 4 to 12 mils (color dependent) | — | — |
Technical Details & Test Data
- Cure
It is recommended that gel time be checked in the customer's plant because age, temperature, humidity, and catalyst will produce varied gel times. ArmorFlex® 953 is quality control tested using Arkema Luperox® DDM-9 catalyst. Norac NOROX MEKP-9 and NOROX MEKP-9H, Akzo Nobel CADOX L-50a and CADOX D50 are expected to yield similar performance. Arkema Luperox® DHD-9, NOROX MEKP-925 and NOROX MEKP-925H, and Crompton HP-90 may yield slightly shorter gel and cure times.
The catalyst level should not exceed 3% or fall below 1.2% for proper cure. The recommended range is 1.2% to 3.0% with 1.8% at 77 °F being ideal. Normally, the gel coat film is ready for lamination in 45 to 80 minutes. This time element is dependent on material temperature, room temperature, humidity, air movement, and catalyst concentration. Note: 953 series films have a tendency to air dry and lay-up times may be deceiving. If lay-up time is checked by the finger method, slight pressure and rubbing should be used. Special fast-cure versions are available but must be requested. These products offer lay-up times of 30 minutes or less depending on gel times. Fast cure products have shorter stability and should not be inventoried over 45 days.
These products (standard or fast cure) should not be used when temperature conditions are below 60 °F, as curing may be adversely affected.
Storage & Handling
- Handling and Storage
Un-catalyzed, standard cure ArmorFlex® 953 gel coats have a shelf-life of 90 days from date of shipment when stored at 73°F or below, in a closed, factory-sealed, opaque container, and out of direct sunlight. Fast cure gel coats (i.e. gel time less than 9.0 minutes) are stable for 45 days. The usage life is cut in half for every 20°F over 73°F. Totes of product can have even shorter usage life--66% of that for drums.