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11-15-2011, 02:03 PM
billhayes | building question
Does anyone have experience with use of acetyl acetone as retardant additive to resin to delay gel time? Sources? I'm about to close wings and worried about time needed to complete task. Bill
11-17-2011, 11:54 AM
Ed Lynch | Reaction time of the resin mix
Dear Bill,
No experience using acetone to slow the reaction, only thinning.
The reaction time of the resin I used on my plane could be controlled by the percentage of hardener used. My resin came from Aircraft Spruce, and had a hardener mix ratio range from .5% to 2.5%. At half a percent it gave me over an hour working time in the Florida heat (80-85), and was still cured after 24 hours. Mostly, I used 1% hardener for about 40 minutes working time, and only used 2% for lightly loaded stuff, like small brackets and the like, and about 20 minutes is all you get with that. If I were to do my wings over, I would use 1% again, but would go through a complete dry run, with at LEAST two helpers who are familiar with the task. I did it with one helper, and it was really busy! It took about 30 minutes, and it takes a whole lot of resin adhesive mix. Several smaller batches, mixed progressively, is way better than one or two big ones, because of the heat generated. Have a dedicated mixer-person. Practice, and having a real plan is the key to success here. Good luck! Ed
11-17-2011, 01:43 PM
jparks
There is a proscribed retarder for vynilester resin, however I have forgotten the name. Look up the vynilester on the web or call Seawind. It works well.
billhayes | building question
Does anyone have experience with use of acetyl acetone as retardant additive to resin to delay gel time? Sources? I'm about to close wings and worried about time needed to complete task. Bill
11-17-2011, 11:54 AM
Ed Lynch | Reaction time of the resin mix
Dear Bill,
No experience using acetone to slow the reaction, only thinning.
The reaction time of the resin I used on my plane could be controlled by the percentage of hardener used. My resin came from Aircraft Spruce, and had a hardener mix ratio range from .5% to 2.5%. At half a percent it gave me over an hour working time in the Florida heat (80-85), and was still cured after 24 hours. Mostly, I used 1% hardener for about 40 minutes working time, and only used 2% for lightly loaded stuff, like small brackets and the like, and about 20 minutes is all you get with that. If I were to do my wings over, I would use 1% again, but would go through a complete dry run, with at LEAST two helpers who are familiar with the task. I did it with one helper, and it was really busy! It took about 30 minutes, and it takes a whole lot of resin adhesive mix. Several smaller batches, mixed progressively, is way better than one or two big ones, because of the heat generated. Have a dedicated mixer-person. Practice, and having a real plan is the key to success here. Good luck! Ed
11-17-2011, 01:43 PM
jparks
There is a proscribed retarder for vynilester resin, however I have forgotten the name. Look up the vynilester on the web or call Seawind. It works well.