Are there any published tests that compare Sunshield UV resistance to other clear topcoats including commercial 2K clears?
It’s honestly the best coating I’ve ever used in terms of how it flows. Any other regular 2k automotive coating that I’ve used I need to rub back to get a perfect finish, whereas the Sunshield I can lay down perfectly off the gun.
Has anyone used this as an IMC and infused with epoxy? Sounds too good to be true.
Yep. I use it with epoxy quite regularly as well as the occasional vinyl ester part. It’s great stuff, exactly as good as it sounds.
My opinion on it is that it is “OK” its hard to spray over a semi permanent release. It has an amber/brown tint to it, and it is brittle when it is cured. Also if you have any tiny air bubbles when you infuse or wet layup with it it will be trapped between your material and your duratec coating. You then have to open them up or dig them open, sometimes more work than post process clearing.
That’s just any IMC though, that’s just processing errors. It’s less forgiving, but it’s better for production moulding. It isn’t hard to spray over a high slip release agent, it just takes a different technique which can take some practice. It’s different process to post-mould coatings so it does have a bit of a learning curve.
It cures totally clear as well, I’m not sure if you meant it cures with an amber tint?
The more hardener you use the darker it gets. Since its been colder here when I’m spraying I’ve used 2%. If it’s hotter weather I drop to 1 sometimes.
The stuff is not brittle in my experience but flexible compared to other resins I’ve used. Compared to clear costs yes maybe harder but as a resin system it’s very forgiving.
Could this be laid down as an imc with a brush? Does it flow out enough to conceal any brush strokes?
I guess it would mainly depend on how fast you catalyze. I’ve used a brush but only to help my fish eyeing on the first coat since it was heading up and I was going to just see if going over it with a light brush would help.
I can’t answer for sure how smooth you could get things and unsure if there’s any technique that would help that I’m not aware of. I think maybe taking some acetone to the surface with a spray bottle may help level it out but again just thinking out loud at this point.
Im guessing this reeks like styrene like a typical polyester?
Yes sir, sure does.
helllp!!! i just tried the -061 over the frekote setup and immediately got a terrible finish - i have no idea what has gone wrong. appears as if it’s not wetting the surface at all. and i mean at all. the part sat for a couple days after the frekote applications but in a clean area. help!!!
sorry about pic size – don’t do this often
I generally feel trying to spray any thin materials on semi permanents is difficult.
Try waxing over the frekote.
It has to be sprayed with a very light mist for the first pass. Once that tacks, you can spray some heavier coats. It’s awesome stuff, but it does take some time to get used to spraying it- especially on a semi perm coated finish.
That’s pretty much what it does over any semi permanent release agent. Sometimes I heat the mold up to get the duratec to tack up faster then hit it again and babysit the fisheyes with a foam brush. I really wish someone in the industry had a better in clear mold coating solution! Hint hint German Advanced Composites In-Mold-Coating Bring it back to the U.S. and let us help you market it better.
Depending on your mold, styrene gas can pool in low areas and inhibit curing. It can be a good idea to set up a fan to help the gas evaporate and evacuate.
Just a thought, Outlaw. Did you get it figured out?
I’m planning on using this for IMC and ProSet infusion.
I’m having the same issues. Waxing over the semi-perm helped a little, but still a pain to spray over. I’ve tried the mist coat but might not wait long enough for fear of it gelling in the gun. You almost have to mix just enough right before you spray each coat which is a huge time waste.
Any other tips on working with this stuff? It is nice, just kinda a pain.
If the weather isn’t warm enough, then the only option is just to mix up an initial batch of 50mls,and have your say conditions main batch measured out and ready to go. Spray the mist coat, blow some acetone through the gun, and just let it set up for as long as it needs. Realistically it does need at least 15 minutes, more if it is below 25 degrees.
This doesn’t really take any more time, you just measure out how much you need, pour 50ml of it into a second cup and you’re away.