Mould Resin Systems
Mold-making epoxy resin – Ideal for model and mold construction
What are the advantages of mold-making epoxy resin?
Mold-making epoxy resin is characterized by extremely high dimensional stability. Compared to polyester or vinyl ester resins, it has lower shrinkage, allowing for high-precision casting molds with fine details. Due to its excellent temperature and chemical resistance, it is ideal for GFRP mold-making and the production of fiber-reinforced composites. Additionally, epoxy resin adheres exceptionally well to various substrates and can be modified with fillers to optimize specific mechanical properties. Thanks to its high dimensional accuracy, the mold geometry remains stable even under varying temperature conditions. At the same time, its low moisture absorption ensures long-term weather resistance, which is particularly advantageous in boat and automotive construction. Furthermore, epoxy resin for mold-making can be tailored to different viscosity levels, allowing for fluid or thixotropic systems depending on the application.
What special resin systems are available for mold-making?
> Filled epoxy resin systems for professional mold-making
HP-E30FB – High-Strength Epoxy Resin Molds for Maximum Durability
HP-E30FB is a high-quality, aluminum-filled 2K epoxy resin, specifically developed for high-stress mold-making. With its excellent abrasion resistance, edge hardness, and a vacuum-processed, bubble-free formulation, it is ideal for producing wear-resistant casting molds with metal-like properties and outstanding thermal conductivity. The innovative, DETA1-free formulation ensures high styrene resistance after post-curing. This high-viscosity resin system can be applied wet-on-wet or combined with a dry coupling layer.
> Unfilled epoxy resin systems for professional mold-making
HP-E25FB – Fine-Layer Epoxy Resin for Detailed Mold Surfaces
HP-E25FB is an unfilled, thixotropic 2K epoxy resin, particularly suited for creating fine mold surfaces. Due to its excellent sanding and polishing properties, it enables smooth, precise surfaces that meet the highest standards. The brushable system can be pigmented and serves as a gelcoat or as a base for EP foams in combination with HP-BEL11 additive. Thanks to its easy processing and short curing time, it is highly versatile in GFRP mold-making and model-making applications.
HP-E25KL/HP-E45KL – Chemical-Resistant Epoxy Resin for Coupling Layers
The HP-E25KL and HP-E45KL epoxy resin systems are medium-viscosity, unfilled 2K systems, specifically designed for chemical-resistant mold-making. They feature a hard yet elastic structure, making them particularly suitable for coupling layers. These versatile multipurpose resins can be pigmented and mixed with fillers, depending on requirements, to achieve customized mechanical properties. Perfect for durable, high-precision casting molds with outstanding dimensional stability.
How is mold-making with epoxy resin done?
The mold-making process with epoxy resin begins with the production of a model, which serves as a template. The 2K epoxy resin is then mixed with the appropriate hardener and applied in layers or poured directly as a casting resin into a mold. During curing, particularly hard and dimensionally stable molds are formed, known for their long lifespan and high mechanical strength. Thanks to its exceptional adhesion properties, epoxy resin ensures a flawless surface quality, which is crucial for model-making or GFRP mold-making applications. Depending on the requirements, the epoxy resin mold can be further treated with a release agent to ensure smooth demolding. The use of filled or unfilled resin systems allows for the adjustment of specific mechanical and thermal properties. Once fully cured, the molds can be post-processed, polished, or coated with additional protective layers to extend their service life.
Where is epoxy resin used in mold-making?
Epoxy resin for mold-making is used in various industrial sectors, including boat building, the automotive industry, model-making, and aerospace engineering. It plays a key role in GFRP mold-making, as it provides an excellent foundation for the production of high-strength fiber-reinforced components. Those who want to create a high-quality casting mold benefit from the outstanding properties of mold-making epoxy resin. Additionally, it can be combined with carbon fibers or glass fiber mats to achieve additional strength. Epoxy resin is increasingly used in prototype development, as it enables rapid and precise reproduction of complex geometries. In series production, it is used to manufacture durable tool molds for demanding production processes. Thanks to its high-temperature resistance, mold-making epoxy resin is also suitable for high-temperature applications, such as the production of CFRP components for motorsports or aerospace applications.