Table of Contents
What is the catalyst for polyester resin?
Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide
MEKP (Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide) is the catalyst added to polyester resins and vinyl ester resins. As the catalyst mixes with the resin, a chemical reaction occurs, creating heat which cures (hardens) the resin.
What catalyst is usually used for vinylester and polyester resins?
MEKP Catalyst is a clear, colorless solution of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide in a mixture of dimethyl phthalate and an ester plasticizer. MEKP is principally used as an initiator or catalyst for the room temperature cure of unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins. It is also needed with all gel coats.
Do you need to add catalyst to resin?
Resin and Topcoat both require catalyst. Topcoat is not paint. It is essential to add the correct quantity of catalyst. Too much catalyst weakens cured resin and topcoat.
Will polyester resin cure without catalyst?
Things You’ll Need You let it sit, and sit, and sit, but it never completely hardens. Chances are you did not add enough catalyst, the chemical that hardens the resin.
Is MEKP catalyst a hardener?
MEKP is a clear hardener/catalyst for the room temperature cure of unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins. It is also needed with all gel coats. It is typically used between 1.25% to 1.75% (1 2/3 ounce to 2 1/3 ounces per gallon).
Does polyester resin need hardener?
It has a quick cure and adds dimensional stability. Polyester resin requires MEKP hardener. Needed Supplies (this will vary depending on your project): MEKP (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide) is required.
What is Mekp hardener?
MEKP hardener is a 50 % solution of methylethylketoneperoxide in a desensitised plasticizer. It is used in combination with cobalt accelerators for the cold curing of polyester resins. The MEKP hardener/cobalt accelerator system has medium activity and leads to uniform, low-stress hardening of the resin.
How long does MEKP catalyst last?
This MEKP is the catalyst/hardening agent for polyester resins and polyester gelcoats. This item has a shelf life of approximately 2-3 months. One gallon will cure approximately 100 gallons of resin and 50 gallons of gelcoat.
What is MEKP used for?
Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) is used as a hardener in manufacture of resins, synthetic rubber and other petrochemical plastics. It is an ingredient of paints, varnishes and paint removers. MEKP is also used in fiberglass and plastics industry as a curing agent.
Why did my resin started smoking?
Why does resin get hot? Often the term “exotherm” is used when epoxy gets very hot, bubbles, smokes or cracks, however exotherm isn’t just a bad side effect. Exotherm is an integral part of epoxy resin chemistry and some heat or exotherm is required for the mixture to solidify and properly cure.
Is catalyst A activator?
A catalyst is a substance that can be added to a reaction to increase the reaction rate without getting consumed in the process. Catalysts typically speed up a reaction by reducing the activation energy or changing the reaction mechanism. Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions.
What is the ratio of MEKP and resin?
POLYESTER RESIN/GELCOAT IS CATALYZED WITH MEKP (METHYL ETHYL KETONE PEROXIDE). THE RATIO IS APPROXIMATELY ONE OUNCE OF HARDENER PER GALLON OF RESIN.
Is MEKP a hardener?
MEKP is a clear hardener/catalyst for the room temperature cure of unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins. It is also needed with all gel coats.
Does polyester resin catalyst go bad?
A lot of manufacturers/suppliers recommend not using resin if its older than 6 months.
What is a pre-accelerated resin?
Since accelerators have little influence on the resin in the absence of a catalyst they are sometimes added to the resin by the polyester manufacturer to create a “pre-accelerated” resin. The molecular chains of the polyester can be represented as follows, where “B” indicates the reactive sites in the molecule:
What is the best catalyst for polyester resin?
Cobalt salts are usually used as a true catalyst. Substances used are generally organic peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide or methyl ethyl ketone peroxide . Polyester resins are thermosetting and, as with other resins, cure exothermically.
What is the best promoter for polyester resin?
Cobalt salts are the most common type of promoter used. Common radical initiators used are organic peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide or methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. Polyester resins are thermosetting and, as with other resins, cure exothermically.
Are polyester resins resistant to chemicals?
Whilst unsaturated polyester resins have very good chemical resistance to a wide range of chemicals, efforts to enhance chemical resistance are usually undertaken by modifying the resin composition. Polyester resins with more bespoke qualities are also available from specialist manufacturers.