The Valencia-based Plastics Technology Centre AIMPLAS has played an instrumental role in developing a new fast-curing gel-coat for composites.
AIMPLAS Ecogel
The new powder gel-coat - which is targeted for the automotive sector - reduces curing time by up to 80 per cent and minimises VOC emissions and can assist in the on-going trend to produce lighter-weighing parts.
AIMPLAS was one of the organisations participating in the European project Ecogel Cronos to develop an innovative and ecological high-productivity RTM process. The programme focused on the formulation and the manufacture of fast-curing powder gel-coats for composite parts, facilitating faster curing times and minimal emissions. The finished product reduces curing times by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional liquid gel-coats and takes out the priming step in the production process.
Two study cases have been proposed in the project in order to demonstrate the advantages of the new technologies developed: a tractor part and a car door. After obtaining new powder gel-coats, project work is now focused on the development of composite moulds in which carbon fibre laminate will assume a double function, acting at the same time as structural reinforcement in the mould and as a heat component that will provide a completely homogenous heat surface.