Filled resins and the closed-mould process

摘要

Filled resins and,in particular,glass microspheres offer the potential of improved product functionality and cost savings.However,the ability to process such highly-filled and high-viscosity resins has always been a challenge.Polymat"Hi-Flow",with its unique core design,enables the use of highly-filled and high-viscosity resins,providing the designer and engineer with the freedom to optimise product and process design.The requirements of a product often go beyond those offered by resin and glass alone.More specific technical or commercial needs often dictate the use of filled resin systems,using materials such as calcium carbonate(cost reduction),aluminium trihydrate(flame retardancy)or glass microspheres(weight and cost reduction).The incorporation of these fillers into a resin brings with it an array of challenges,such as mixing and particle distribution,controlling resin viscosity and maintaining consistency during infusion.If the resin viscosity becomes too high,it can be impractical to infuse,resulting in long fill times and even incomplete filling of the mould.