Hi,

I have a question regarding the use of Easy-Lease. I did a mould from a carbon fiber part using EG60 Gelcoat and the corresponding EG60 paste. As a release agent I used Easy-Lease. I applied 6-8 layers of Easy-Lease, and there was more than 1 h after the last layer. Then 2 layers of gelcoat, and finally the paste...

But then, impossible to release the part. It actually was completely stuck to the Gelcoat. I manage to get the part back using screw driver, hammer, sand paper...

I am trying to figure out why that is. I have used Easy-Lease in the past...no problem. The only thing I can see is that I have my Easy-Lease stock for more than 1 year, and it has in fact been open more than a year ago. I know its shelf-life is 1 year from production...I have ordered a new stock...but I am trying to figure out if just getting out of date would be a sufficient reason for this problem...just that I keep a better track of the dates of my release agent in the future. Or should this not be such an issue  and I should look elsewhere to explain this problem ? But then, I really have no clue what could go wrong...

Thanks!

What was the surface of your pattern you were moulding?

I think we may have spoken over email a few days ago?  but yes, out of date release agent could easily be the cause on its own.  Especially if it was a previously opened bottle.  EasyLease is sensitive to moisture as well as natural degredation over time so if it is well over a year old and has been opened before, it wouldn't surprise me if that was the main cause of the problem.

Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant

Hi Warren, yes we did ! It was very useful. I have received a new bottle of Easy-Lease yesterday, so I will switch to that. In fact, my mistake is that I do this for fun (that is for my own parts), and I have been buying Easy Lease by 0.5 L bottles. Was a mistake. I should rather get smaller bottles more often. Next time !
If one is not sure about the surface of a part (when molding a commercial part), what is the best way to maybe coat it or so to make sure that there is no incompatibility with the Easy  Lease ?
Thanks for all the help !

If you arent absolutely certain what the surface is (ie, you havent coated it yourself) then you should either be testing prior to moulding, or use PVA release agent to make your mould. There are more incompatible materials out there than compatible ones, so always assume it isnt going to be compatible unless you know for sure that it is.

Chemical release agents do expire, but they tend to last much much longer than their quoted shelf-life unless they are stored poorly. I've got a gallon of Frekote here that expired in 2009, it still works as well as the day I got it. Of course theres lots of variables that could effect that, and I'm not saying your Easylease hasn't expired - just that personally I dont have any issue using release agents well past their expiry.