Vinyl Ester Resin

Ashland to Showcase its Wind Power Portfolio at AWEA 2011 Expo

Dublin, Ohio (PRWEB) May 20, 2011

Renewable wind-energy technology is rapidly expanding, and Ashland Performance Materials, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), continues its progress in bringing advanced composite and adhesive materials to this industry.

As an active participant with a number of universities in wind-energy research projects, Ashland will showcase its innovative technologies at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Wind Power 2011 Conference and Exposition, May 22-25 in Anaheim, Calif.

“Ashland’s early focus on the wind-energy industry has positioned us for great partnerships and growth as use of this technology expands,” said Kevin Lambrych, global wind-energy program manager, Performance Materials. “One of our products, Derakane™ 601-200 epoxy vinyl ester resin , can improve cycle times by 25 percent in infusion blade manufacturing processes, as compared with epoxy resin systems.”

In addition to Derakane resin, Ashland’s Pliogrip™ structural adhesives will be featured at the exposition. Pliogrip adhesives deliver superior bonding performance and are becoming an essential part of nacelle construction. A longtime choice for bonding automobile composite body assemblies and specialty components, Pliogrip structural adhesives can bind a number of materials including fiberglass reinforced plastic, carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, thermoplastic olefins, steel and aluminum.

Another innovation featured at the exposition will be Ashland’s Envirez™ resins , formulated to contain up to 22 percent renewable content from soybean oil and corn derived ethanol. Envirez resins are designed to provide users with a reliable, environmentally responsible choice when compared with traditional resin technology. Envirez resins meet or fall well within performance guidelines for use in wind energy construction.

For more information about Ashland’s wind-energy technologies contact Kevin Lambrych at (614) 790-3730 or by email at krlambrych(at)ashland(dot)com.

Ashland Performance Materials is the global leader in unsaturated polyester resins and epoxy vinyl ester resins. In addition, it provides customers with leading technologies in gelcoats, pressure-sensitive and structural adhesives, coatings and metal casting consumables and design services.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit http://www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline).

How To Apply Vinyl Ester Resin And Gel Coat - Fiberglass Pool Repair

Resin For Swimming Pools

We sell only Fibre-Shelkote II vinyl ester resin manufactured specifically for the resurfacing and repair of swimming pools, hot tubs, and spa’s, using the “hand lay-up” method. It is not for the corrosive or marine markets. The drying time (gel time) is much longer than other vinyl ester resins, providing ample time to roll-on the resin and fiberglass.

High quality fiberglass swimming pools are manufactured with:

When fiberglass swimming pools and fiberglass panels for in-ground swimming pools where first manufactured in the United States, the above materials were used exclusively. Today, nearly 50 years later, the same exact materials are still used in the manufacturing process.

Best of all, those first fiberglass pools, excluding those destroyed by acts of nature, are still providing seasonal or year round enjoyment to those fortunate enough to own one.

Resin is an extremely important component in the composite material. The top-of-the-line fiberglass pools are molded using expensive vinyl ester resin exclusively. The low-end pools are a combination of vinyl ester resin and cheap polyester resin. But even on the cheapest fiberglass pools , the layer of resin closest to the inside of the pool is always vinyl ester.

The reason vinyl ester resin must be closest to the pool interior is because gel coat will not laminate to polyester resin. Without the final coating of gel coat, the pool wouldn’t last five years. Without gel coat, the resin would begin rubbing off within three years, the inside layer of fiberglass would begin causing injury, and algae would take over the swimming pool very soon thereafter.

Fiberglass boats are a perfect example of the need for vinyl ester resin. The hull of every fiberglass boat is a vinyl ester resin composite . Above deck, manufacturers use polyester resin to save money. But underwater, vinyl ester resin must be used for both strength and gel coat lamination. Without gel coat, the saltwater (among other things) would quickly destroy the porous resin.

In other words, anything constantly immersed in water, be it salt water or chemically treated pool water, must have a coating of non-porous gel coat.

Advanced polymeric materials, structure property relationships

Unsaturated polyester technology

Paint and coatings, applications and corrosion resistance

ICCM-11 [v4]

A Guide to Polymeric Geomembranes, A Practical Approach