Innovations in Gelcoat technology:

R.Raghavan, Satyen Vora and Biju,K,
Satyen Scott Bader Private Limited

 

Introduction :
Crystic® Gelcoats have been designed with high levels of UV resistant additives and the highest quality-controlled coated grade of Titanium Dioxide.

Styrene is an aromatic reactive diluent used in the gelcoat and is one of the main causes of yellowing. Development of low styrene content Crystic® Gelcoats have yielded in low colour change and outstanding gloss retention for exterior application. Recent innovations include

Crystic EcoGel, Ultralow styrene gelcoat :
Crystic Ecogel is an ultra low styrene emission gelcoat recently launched at JEC 2013. The low styrene emission is achieved using unique Scott Bader Resin technology replacing a large amount of styrene (this product has only 16% styrene compared to standard spray gelcoats that have upto 40% styrene content) with less volatile lower odour monomers.

Customer trials and independent tests have shown that using Crystic Ecogel styrene emissions can be lowered by upto 55%.

Crystic Ecogel contains significantly less styrene odour than standard spray gelcoats – operators have notice a huge difference in their workshops

Product	Styrene Content (%)	Styrene emission Dynamic Phase (%)	Styrene emission Static Phase (%)	Total Emission (%)
Std. Spray	40	6,0	9,0	15
Std.Brush	30	3,0	9,0	12
Crystic Ecogel	16	4,5	1,3	5,8

LM Wind Power now uses Crystic ultralow styrene emission gelcoat and have seen major reduction is styrene emission of upto 50% during their spray application.

Crystic® Permabright:
The advanced new D-Iso/NPG polymer technology resin chemistry used in Crystic® Permabright gelcoat has set a new standard in long term UV weathering performance. It provides significantly improved colour stability than existing marine Iso/NPG gelcoats. Markets expected to benefit from this new gelcoat technology are those where retaining a high level of aesthetic quality in exposed gel coated surfaces is highly desirable such as leisure marine, transportation and building.

The new D-Iso/ NPG Resin
D-Iso/NPG unsaturated polyester resin technology is unique to Scott Bader. It took over three years of research to develop this new resin chemistry, which derives its superior UV weathering properties from the chemical structure of the resin having a deconjugated polyester backbone. After many laboratory scale formulation tests and trials, it was discovered that a deconjugated Iso/NPG polyester was much more resistant to degradation from sunlight and UV radiation. Further tests demonstrated that if used as the base resin for a white pigmented gelcoat, the deconjugated polyester resin made a significant contribution to reducing yellowing and improving gloss retention.

Due to its superior weathering properties Crystic® Permabright is used in exterior application such as the marine industry.

 

 

Crystic® Fireguard® 75

Crystic® Fireguard® 75 is a Fire protection coating and is based on intumescences technology that provides a passive barrier to block the path of fire when exposed to direct flame. It achieves BS476 part 6 / 7, class 0 /1 when applied on a non fire retardant composite laminate.

Fire protection is ensured by its unique chemistry and its reaction when exposed to a direct flame. In simple terms, when fire attacks the intumescent topcoat, it causes a chemical reaction which makes the topcoat expand to form a non-flammable protective layer that insulates the surface over which it has been applied.

Crystic® Fireguard® 75 can withstand direct flame at a temperature of 700 deg C for 1 hour and this is a significant period of time to contain a fire and prevent it from rapidly spreading which can help to avoid catastrophic fire damage and save lives.

Fire protection is ensured by its unique chemistry and its reaction when exposed to a direct flame. In simple terms, when fire attacks the intumescent topcoat, it causes a chemical reaction which makes the topcoat expand to form a non-flammable protective layer that insulates the surface over which it has been applied.

Crystic® Fireguard® 75 can withstand direct flame at a temperature of 700 deg C for 1 hour and this is a significant period of time to contain a fire and prevent it from rapidly spreading which can help to avoid catastrophic fire damage and save lives.

                                                                  

Crystic® Fireguard® 75 – 1 hr fire resistance and has been used as a fire protection coating in the Saudi clock Makkah tower, the world’s biggest clock tower.

Crystic® Fireguard® 75 has been specified for over 30 years in critical internal applications which need to meet BS 476 Part 6 Class 0 or BS 476 Part 7 Class 1 FR test standards. It has been used for interior parts in buildings, rail and other public transport vehicles, as well as in the marine sector where it is used to protect the engine compartments of both pleasure craft and working boats.

                                 

 

                                    

Crystic® Fireguard® 75 had been applied to left hand side of the box above. Both sections had acetone poured in and were set alight. The fire really took hold in the uncoated side. When the flames were extinguished, it was clearly evident that the left hand side had been protected by Crystic Fireguard 75PA Excel.