Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Gelcoat Not Curing

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic35028.aspx

By adoyler97 - 3/9/2020 2:17:37 PM

I was wondering if anyone has had similar issues with the uni-mould tooling gelcoat not curing after 3+ days. The gelcoat has been mixed with the recommended 2% MEKP hardener along with 2% wax additive and has been brushed onto MDF board that has been machined to the shape of half an aerofoil. I have attempted three different moulds with two different results. One having looked like it was hardened and ready for polishing however under the wax layer the gelcoat was still meallable, and the other result being that the gelcoat was still practically as it was applied. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
By adoyler97 - 3/9/2020 11:21:24 PM

 
Hanaldo - 3/9/2020 11:18:31 PM
Ambient temp is the problem, gelcoat won't cure at 10° with 2% catalyst. Even with 5% catalyst it wouldnt cure, ambient temp needs to be an absolute minimum of 15° to work with gelcoats. 

Can you warm your working environment or even just the plug up at all? Theres a good chance the gelcoat will still cure if you can get it up to 30 or 40°.

Yeah I can for sure look into this tomorrow and see if it cures, I'll get back to you with feedback, thanks for the tip it's really greatly appreciated.