Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Composite Materials Functions
- Technologies
- Product Families
Features & Benefits
- Materials Features
- Product Highlights
- Excellent water resistance for reduced osmotic blistering
- Good chemical resistance for long, lasting durable finishes
- 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 patches and surrounding refinished area
- Higher gloss recoverability from lower gloss molds
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Recommended Applications
ArmorFlex® 953 Series gel coats must be mixed prior to use. This includes prior to production spray application and when obtaining material for patching or any material that has been set aside for patching. Several suitable types of mixing equipment and styles of agitators are available for both pails and drums. Regardless of the specific type used, the equipment must have 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. Mixing once a day for 10 minutes is typically sufficient. Do not overmix ArmorFlex® 99F gel coats. Overmixing can break down the polymer coating viscosity increasing the tendency to sag. Overmixing can also result in styrene loss which could contribute to porosity. Air bubbling should not be used for mixing. It is not effective and only serves as a potential source of water or oil contamination. ArmorFlex® 953 Series gel coats are formulated for spray application. Brushing or rolling is not recommended. Refer to Polynt’s Composites Applications Guide for additional information.
Properties
- Color
- Typical Properties
| Value | Units | Test Method / Conditions | |
| Sag Resistance | Good at 20 mils | — | — |
| Viscosity | 12,000-18,000 | cps | — |
| Thixotropic Index (2/20) | 5.5-7.0 | — | — |
| Flash Point | 79-82 | °F | — |
| Volatile Organic Compound | 36.0-40.0 | % | — |
| Weight per Gallon | 9.0-11.0 | lbs | — |
| Gel Time | 13.0-17.0 | minutes | — |
| Lay-up Time | 45-80 | minutes | — |
| Hide (Most Formulations) | 3 to 20 | mils wet | — |
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. All data referencing gel or cure refers specifically to Arkema Luperox® DDM-9 catalyst. United Initiators Norox® MEKP-9 and Norox® MEKP-9H, AkzoNobel CADOX® L-50a and CADOX® D-50 are expected to yield similar performance. Arkema Luperox® DHD-9, United Initiators Norox® MEKP-925 and Norox® MEKP-925H, and Pergan HP-90 may yield slightly shorter gel and cure times.
The recommended catalyst 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: ArmorFlex® 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.
These products should not be used when temperature conditions are below 60°F, as curing may be adversely affected.
Safety & Health
- Product Safety
ArmorFlex® 953 Series gel coats may not be compatible in the liquid state with other gel coats and resins. Spray and pumping equipment should be completely clean before using ArmorFlex® 953 Series products. Do not add any material, other than the recommended methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, to this product without any advice.
Storage & Handling
- Handling and Storage
Uncatalyzed, standard cure gel coats have a shelf life of 120 days from date of manufacture when stored at 73°F or below, in a closed, factory-sealed, opaque container, and out of direct sunlight. Fast Cure gel coats (gel time less than 9.0 minutes) have a shelf life of 60 days. The shelf life is cut in half for every 20°F over 73°F. Totes of product can have even shorter shelf life – only 66% of that for drums.