Applications
Neogel 8366 is a vinyl ester mold gel coat specifically designed for the manufacture of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) molds. Formulated with a special, high-quality vinyl ester resin as its base, this mold gel coat is also suitable for FRP products that require high mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance.
Product Characteristics
Neogel 8366 is a pre-accelerated, thixotropic gel coat. For the following processes,
Neogel 8366 is available in two colors—orange and black—commonly used in FRP mold manufacturing:
- Spray Application (Neogel 8366)
When using standard spray equipment, we recommend that customers follow the application guidelines below:
- Handheld spray gun with a nozzle diameter of 4–5 mm and a spray pressure of 4–5 standard atmospheres
- The second coat should be applied only after the first coat has fully cured (2 hours at 20°C)
To achieve optimal results, we recommend that customers ensure the following application conditions:
- Thoroughly and gently stir each bucket of gel coat before use. Avoid high-speed stirring, which can introduce air bubbles.
- The ambient temperature during application should be between 18°C and 25°C.
- Relative humidity should be below 80%.
- Use standard methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) at a concentration of 1.5%–2%, depending on the ambient temperature. Butanox M 50 (Akzo)
- The wet film thickness should be 600–800 micrometers (0.6–0.8 millimeters).
- Adjust the spray gun to the appropriate pressure and apply 4–5 successive coats to form the gel coat film. During spraying, use a thickness gauge to verify the gel coat film thickness.
- Maintain a distance of approximately 60 centimeters between the spray gun and the mold.
- Once the gel coat has cured (when it feels tacky to the touch but does not stick to the finger), the structural resin layer can be applied; generally, a curing time of 2–4 hours is sufficient.
Key Characteristics
Neogel VE 8366 offers the following comprehensive properties: ease of application, high gloss and good durability, no pinholes, excellent mechanical properties, high-temperature resistance, and styrene resistance;
Typical Properties of Liquid Base Gel Coat
| Applications | Grade | Performance Test Item | Test Method | Unit | Typical Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Injection Molding | 8366 | Appearance | TM 2265 / colored | - | thixotropic liquid |
| For spraying | 8366 | Viscosity at 25°C | No. 4 rotor, 2 rpm, TM 5042 | mPa·s | 28,000–48,000 |
| For injection molding | 8366 | Viscosity at 25°C | No. 4 rotor, 20 rpm, TM 5042 | mPa·s | 4000–6000 |
| For injection molding | 8366 | 25°C Gel time | Using 2% Butanox M50, TM 2245 | minutes | 9–11 |
Available Mold Colors
| Color | Product Grade |
|---|---|
| Black | Neogel VE 8366-W-0100 |
| Orange | Neogel VE 8366-W-0520 |