Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Composite Materials Functions
- Technologies
- Product Families
Features & Benefits
- Labeling Claims
- Materials Features
- Product Highlights
- Enhanced crack resistance
- Good UV resistance for reduced chalking and yellowing in outdoor applications
- Good resistance to water and osmotic blistering
- Greater transfer efficiency and less overspray
- Low backside tack
ArmorFlex® 99F gel coats meet the EPA National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Boat Manufacturing. Certain ArmorFlex® 99F gel coats also meet the EPA NESHAP for Reinforced Plastics Composites Production. ArmorFlex® 99F gel coats offer good water (osmotic) blister resistance. These gel coats when applied properly and backed with one of Polynt Composites’ vinyl ester barrier coats or vinyl ester skin resins will provide a durable osmotic water blister resistant composites suitable for marine boat hulls. This coating system requires only the addition of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) to cure. ArmorFlex® 99F gel coats are available in white and off-white colors. ArmorFlex® 99F gel coats are available in sprayable and brushable versions.
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Recommended Applications
ArmorFlex® 99F 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® 99F gel coats are formulated for spray or brush application. Brushable versions have the word “Brushable” in the product description and the last character in the product code is B. Refer to Polynt’s Composites Applications Guide for guidelines on brush application. Brushing of sprayable versions is not recommended due to flow and leveling issues.
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 (ArmorFlex® 99F or catalyst), poor tip alignment (catalyst to ArmorFlex® 99F 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. Inquire about and adhere to all equipment manufacturers’ recommendations.
Properties
- Color
- Typical Properties
| Value | Units | Test Method / Conditions | |
| Flash Point at 77°F(Sprayable Products) | 79 | °F | — |
| Weight per Gallon at 77°F (Sprayable Products) | 11.0-11.5 | — | — |
| Viscosity Brookfield RVF, spindle #4 at 4 rpm at 77°F (Sprayable Products) | 10,000-19,000 | cps | — |
| Viscosity Brookfield RVF, spindle #4 at 4 rpm (Base Products) at 77°F (Sprayable Products) | 13,000-19,000 | — | — |
| Thixotropic Index (2/20) at 77°F (Sprayable Products) | 4.0-6.5 | — | — |
| Gel Time in 100gm mass at 77°F (Sprayable Products) | 3-47 | minutes | — |
| Gel Time in 100gm mass (Base Products) at 77°F (Sprayable Products) | 15-19 | minutes | — |
| Sag Resistance at 77°F (Good) (Sprayable Products) | 20 | mils | — |
| Hide at 77°F (Completed) (Sprayable Products) | 10 | mils | — |
| Tack Free/Dull Gloss Time at 77°F (Sprayable Products) | 60-90 | minutes | — |
| Flash Point at 77°F (Brushable Products) | 79 | °F | — |
| Weight per Gallon at 77°F (Brushable Products) | 11.0-11.5 | — | — |
| Viscosity Brookfield RVF, spindle #4 at 4 rpm at 77°F (Brushable Products) | 20,000-52,000 | cps | — |
| Thixotropic Index (2/20) at 77°F (Brushable Products) | 5.0-7.0 | — | — |
| Gel Time in 100gm mass at 77°F (Brushable Products) | 9-35 | minutes | — |
| Sag Resistance at 77°F (Good) (Brushable Products) | 20 | — | — |
| Hide at 77°F (Completed) (Brushable Products) | 10 | — | — |
| Tack Free/Dull Gloss Time at 77°F (Brushable Products) | 60-90 | minutes | — |
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, Akzo Nobel CADOX L-50a and CADOX D-50 are expected to yield similar performance. Arkema Luperox® DHD-9, NOROX® MEKP-925 and NOROX® MEKP-925H, and Chemtura 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 60 minutes. This time element is dependent on material temperature, room temperature, humidity, air movement, and catalyst concentration. 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 70°F, as curing and pumping may be adversely affected.
Storage & Handling
- Handling and Storage
Uncatalyzed, standard cure ArmorFlex® 99F has a shelf life of 120 days. Fast-cure ArmorFlex® 99F products (gel time less than 9.0 minutes) have a shelf life of 60 days. For both standard and fast cure products the shelf life is measured from date of manufacture. These shelf lives are for products stored at 73°F or below, in a closed, factory-sealed, opaque container, and out of direct sunlight. The shelf life is cut in half for every 20°F over 73°F. Product stored in totes can have even shorter shelf life; only 66% of that for drums