Using Multiple Peroxides with Complementing Resin to Provide Improved Laminate Cure and Part Profile

摘要

One of the challenges fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) manufacturers face is how to get the resins they use to perform in the varying applications typically found in a fabrication shop. How do you get the same resin to cure quickly and completely in a thin skincoat laminate and still provide enough working time to complete the application of subsequent thicker laminates, while maintaining a low enough exotherm to provide for a good surface profile? Changing the peroxide level has been used to attempt to address these issues, but with limited effectiveness. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of using one peroxide for the application of the skincoat, and a different peroxide for the subsequent thicker laminates used to build the part. These peroxides were evaluated for their influence on the exotherm, hardness development, and degree of cure in laminates made to the varying thick-nesses that are typically used in the fabrication process. How the resin interacts with the peroxides and the importance of designing the resin to work with both peroxides to achieve maximum performance were examined. The improvements in processing speed and part quality that are possible when using multiple peroxides will be demonstrated. The methods and equipment that can be implemented in a fabrication plant to allow the use of multiple peroxides will be discussed.