Hi guys.

I am having a little difficulties finding Duratec sunshield clear in Europe. It seems to be great product but apparently hard to buy (normally i am good at finding stuff via google but with this i am in dead end. Either suppliers went bust or they dont stock this item).

Any one had more luck than me?

Thanks a lot

Matija

I made some enquiries quite a while ago and contacted the UK distributor, AOC resins, as it wasn't available in the UK

They said that it might be possible to import some from the USA but quantities would need to be quite high. I'm guessing that they don't feel there's sufficient demand in the UK, at least. Not certain if available anywhere in Europe but guessing that shipping might be difficult if so

If more people contact AOC with enquiries then, perhaps, that might help change things?

It does surprise me a little that it's not available already, given that it might be a product of interest to the boat building sector.

What are you wanting to use it for? As an in-mould clear coat? If so, contact German Advanced Composites and inquire about their in-mould clear. It isn't Duratec, but from what I understand, it sounds better than the Duratec for this purpose.

I have a lot of experience with Duratec, and I still use it today - but only as a pattern coat, I don't use it on finished carbon components anymore. It's UV filtration is absolutely terrible, to the point where even branding it as Sunshield feels downright irresponsible. It's shockingly bad. The German Advanced Composites product is a polyurethane, which are naturally much more UV resistant. 

Hi.

First thanks for input.

Apparently AOC just got bought by another company and thus buying anything specific is limited atm (i dont dare to even think what min quantity to order it is) .

I am looking something for coating CF parts that idealy would have the ability to fill odd pinhole or two (besides UV stability).

Thank for pointing me in GAC direction..... ill have a look.

Best regards

Matija

Duratec is admittedly good for pinholes thanks to its ability to be laid on super thick. I still prefer to use a polyurethane, and just stage the coats so that you dont get solvent pop. Or use some resin to fill the pinholes, and then squeegee it flat for minimal sanding work prior to topcoating. 

For what it's worth, this is a test panel I made to see how well the Duratec Sunshield stood up to UV.




As you can see, not great. This went from a full gloss to what you see here in less than 12 months. Given, the Australian summer sun is about the worst you're going to find anywhere, but the fact that it looks this bad after less than 12 months is very concerning. I would not be confident at all that the surface would hold up more than a few years no matter where you are in the world.

This was sprayed as an in-mould coating, which is why it has fisheyes and brush strokes. These areas are actually where the Duratec is thickest, indicating that the coating itself just can't cope with the sun, rather than the resin underneath.

Interesting.

Yeah i am fixing minor cosmetic stuff with epoxy but if possible i would have option that fills and protects the part in one go..... well it would save a lot of time (i hate sanding)


I was using GC50 as in mould coating but with large stuff (bonnets etc.) i tend to leave vacumed bag over night for drop test (i do use digital gauge but when there is a lot if material involved i rather double check everything) so 24h time frame is limiting factor (in addition to slight haze and possibility of pulling layer off the mould when placing first cf cloth).

I contacted GAC and lets see.

Plan B would be sourcing some high solids PU clear i guess.