Technical Questions on resin

[Homerr]

1. What is 'resin' exactly? <br />You see a few different places selling their own 'secret mixture' of resins.<br />Can a common person mix their own resin? Would it be cost effective?<br /><br />2. What is the shelf life of resin?<br />I've read a little on shelf life, and it seems to vary. I would like to hear some 'in the field' reports on this.<br /><br />I just got my shipment of resin from US Composites. Thanks US Comp ! <br />These guys are GREAT by the way. You need boat buildin' stuff...Go to them first.<br /><br />Now it's time to get back to work as soon as the wind stops trying to pick my boat up and the rain from floating it away...<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />H.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Technical Questions on resin

Homerr: This might explain your question "what is resin exactly", as it applies to polyester...<br /><br /> polyester resin info <br /><br /> more resin info <br /><br /> even more info <br /><br />If'n that is'nt enough info for ya, go on google and do a search on "polyester resin properties"..<br /><br />As for shelf life, I seldom let resin go unused for more than a couple months... I would think if you plan on letting it sit then it would be best to keep it in a cool area (around 60 or 70 degrees)and with no contact with direct sunlight it would "keep" for a long time (maybe a year or more)...

 

[Homerr]

Re: Technical Questions on resin

Thanks Bait...<br /><br />I doubt your basic backyard builder could manufacture his own resin, but it would be interesting to know what it's made of, and how much it REALLY costs to make, especially the epoxy.<br /><br />I'll give those sites a read.<br /><br />H.

 

[plywoody]

Re: Technical Questions on resin

People make careers out of studying polyester resins and their various properties and uses. For the average boatbuilder, the glass cloth used, the contolled speed of hardening (proper amount of catalyst) are typically the crucial issues.<br /><br /> If you want it to adhere to something, like wood, it is crucial to get the wood dry enough, and keep it dry in its use. Wood, when it gets wet, will expand at a different rate and it will literally sever any bond that was formed.<br /><br />Ideally, the fiberglass is sealed completely from any intrusion from outside elements.<br /><br />We made the aboveground insulation for the trans Alaska pipeline out of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) and the flanges used to bolt the two sections together were formed over cardboard. It works great as long as it is sealed, and the structural strength comes from the FRP, and not the cardboard!

 

[Red Rider]

Re: Technical Questions on resin

There is a lot of basic information here<br /> http://www.epoxyproducts.com/25points4u.html <br /><br />Read and pay partiular attention to the section where they discuss the addition of solvents to epoxy.