Abstract:
A composite article (12) is manufactured in an open tool molding process, advantageously with a mold made of a polymer material. A coating layer (20) is applied onto the mold surface (18) and physically deformed to provide a textured surface (22) away from the mold prior to complete cure. Thereafter a composite material is applied onto the textured coating surface such that the composite material adjacent to textured coating surface substantially conforms to the shape of the textured coating surface. The composite article may be a gel coat material (14) from which the coating layer is removed after de-molding to reveal a textured surface layer in the gel coat.
Abstract:
Composite articles are prepared by a spray up operation. In a first step, a gel coat is applied onto a mold surface (12) which has been optionally pretreated with a mold release coating (14). Next, a barrier coating (16) is applied over the gel coat in the mold and thereafter a laminate formula (18) is applied over the barrier coat (16). The laminate contains from 20-60% by weight reinforcing fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the multilayer composite has a thickness of about 15 mm or less, and is useful as an automobile body panel. The gel coat contains a curable polyester polyurethane acrylate resin, and the composite article has a surface that has high gloss and color retention after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The laminate preferably comprises a low shrink, low density glass fiber filled polyester resin. In a preferred embodiment, the paste of the laminate contains a dicyclopentadiene unsaturated polyester resin, polymeric hollow microspheres, and an initiator capable of initiating curing at room temperature or at temperature of 50°C or less.
Abstract:
A gel coat for a surface of a composite article contains a curable urethane acrylate resin preferably based on aliphatic polyester polyols and aliphatic polyisocyanates. The gel coat provides a surface that has high gloss and color retention after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The gel coat composition contains resin and acrylic diluents, including optional difunctional and trifunctional diluents. The gel coat is optionally pigmented to produce an article that may be used without further surface treatment.
Abstract:
A composite article (12) is manufactured in an open tool molding process, advantageously with a mold made of a polymer material. A coating layer (20) is applied onto the mold surface (18) and physically deformed to provide a textured surface (22) away from the mold prior to complete cure. Thereafter a composite material is applied onto the textured coating surface such that the composite material adjacent to textured coating surface substantially conforms to the shape of the textured coating surface. The composite article may be a gel coat material (14) from which the coating layer is removed after de-molding to reveal a textured surface layer in the gel coat.
Abstract:
Composite articles are prepared by a spray up operation. In a first step, a gel coat is applied onto a mold surface (12) which has been optionally pretreated with a mold release coating (14). Next, a barrier coating (16) is applied over the gel coat in the mold and thereafter a laminate formula (18) is applied over the barrier coat (16). The laminate contains from 20-60% by weight reinforcing fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the multilayer composite has a thickness of about 15 mm or less, and is useful as an automobile body panel. The gel coat contains a curable polyester polyurethane acrylate resin, and the composite article has a surface that has high gloss and color retention after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The laminate preferably comprises a low shrink, low density glass fiber filled polyester resin. In a preferred embodiment, the paste of the laminate contains a dicyclopentadiene unsaturated polyester resin, polymeric hollow microspheres, and an initiator capable of initiating curing at room temperature or at temperature of 50°C or less.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture a composite article subjected to texture finish resistant to damage by casting work at a low cost using a polymer casting mold having a casting surface. SOLUTION: In a casting process using a texture interface layer 20 for separating the surface of the casting mold 10 from the surface of the composite article 12 manufactured using the casting mold 10, a solution is deposited on the surface 18 of the casting mold 10 in order to form the interface layer 20. The surface of the interface layer provided on the opposite side of the casting mold is formed into a textured surface. Next, the texture of the interface layer 20 is transferred to the surface of the composite article 12 manufactured by the casting mold 10. After the casting mold 10 is detached, the interface layer 20 is bonded to the composite article 12 as a protective coating. Since the textured surface provided on the under side of the article 12 is exposed, the interface layer 20 can be easily removed from the article 12.
Abstract:
Composite articles are prepared by a spray up operation. In a first step, a gel coat is applied onto a mold surface which has been optionally pretreated with a mold release coating. Next, a barrier coat is applied over the gel coat in the mold and thereafter a laminate formula is applied over the barrier coat. The laminate contains from 40-80% by weight paste and from 20-60% by weight reinforcing fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the paste comprises 90% or more by weight resin, up to 5% filler, and an initiator composition capable of initiating cure at a temperature of 50 DEG C or lower. In a preferred embodiment, the multilayer composite has a thickness of about 15 mm or less, and is useful as an automobile body panel. The laminate preferably comprises a low shrink, low density glass fiber filled polyester resin. In a preferred embodiment, the paste of the laminate contains a dicyclopentadiene unsaturated polyester resin, polymeric hollow microspheres, and an initiator capable of initiating curing at room temperature or at temperature of 50 DEG C or less.
Abstract:
A molding process that uses a textured interfacial layer to isolate the surface of a mold (10) from the surface of a composite article produced with the mold (10). A solution (20) is deposited on the mold surface (18) to form the interfacial layer, whose surface (22) opposite the mold (10) is textured. The texture of the interfacial layer is then transferred to the surface of the composite article produced with the mold (10). After demolding, the interfacial layer adheres to the article as a protective coating, but can be readily removed from the article to expose an underlying textured surface of the article.
Abstract:
A method of producing a glass fibre mat-reinforced plastic panel having at least one smooth appearance surface, using a set of two matched mould members (12,14) having interior mould surfaces defining a mould cavity contained therein, of which at least one (18) of said interior surfaces is the mirror image of the appearance surface of said panel, said method comprising the steps of placing at least one layer of glass fibre mat (20) in said mould cavity, pouring a liquid polymeric material into said cavity to saturate said glass fibre mat (20), closing said two mould members (12,14) together with at least one layer (22) of a flexible sheeting material disposed over and adjacent to the interior mould surface opposing said mirror image interior mold surface (18) for producing the appearance surface of said panel, clamping said two mould members (12,14) together, curing said polymeric material for a time sufficient to form the saturated mat (20) into a hard plastic panel, and then opening said matched mould members (12,14) to release a finished panel having at least one smooth appearance surface substantially free from fibre readout defects.