Saturday, August 25, 2012

Fiber Glass Basics: The Gel Coat Application

Applying gel coat correctly is of utmost importance to making aesthetically pleasing and long lasting finish products. The objective of gel coat is to create a uniform thickness across the part. As it cures, this thickness is reduced when some of the chemicals evaporate off. Spraying gelcoat onto a mold returns the best quality finish, but it may also be brushed in areas that are difficult to spray. Achieving a uniform thickness is difficult at intersecting corners, deep narrow areas, and difficult-to-reach sections of the mold.

Areas of excessive gel coat thickness can lead to cracking and surface finish problems. While in areas of insufficient gel coat thickness can “alligator” which is a surface flaw requiring extensive repair. Gel coat Application is a tricky part of the process and the manufacturer of the application equipment and the raw material is the best resource for best practices. 

The Polyklear Composites welcomes all inquiries, comments and suggestions. Leave us a message and we will get back to you immediately. You can also email us at inquiry@olympus.com.ph.