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Cray Valley introduces ester-based cleaner
Materials news
Cray Valley introduces ester-based cleaner POLYESTER RESINS and gelcoats supplier Cray Valley is launching the Thermaclean® range of cleaning agents for the composites industry in Europe. These ester-based cleaners have been developed as a replacement for acetone, dichloromethane and other solvent-based cleaners. Thermaclean products are nonvolatile, resulting in reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nonflammable. The Thermaclean technology is being transferred to Europe from CCP in the USA, which together with Cray Valley and Sartomer forms part of French group Total’s Chemical branch. Thermaclean has 15 years experience in North America. The products went into manufacture in November in France and will
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REINFORCEDplastics
be available for sale in the UK in early January. Trial quantities are available now. Thermaclean products can be used to flush gel-coat or resin process equipment and in dip tank and wipe-down cleaning of tools and equipment parts. There is no need to dilute the product – it can be used straight from the container. The Thermaclean range includes the Unisolve EX Cleaner, which is designed for cleaning tools, mixing and other equipment in any process using filled or unfilled polyester resins and gel-coats such as sheet/bulk moulding compound (SMC/BMC) and resin transfer moulding (RTM). A second product, Gunflush ES, has been developed to replace acetone in the cleaning of gel-coat and resin
December 2008
spray guns. Pre-impregnated wipes are also available. Although around twice the price of acetone, the esterbased Thermaclean products can dissolve up to 30% more resin than the same quantity of acetone. Cleaning time takes slightly longer than acetone. Thermaclean products do not have a specific lifespan and can be used several years after purchase. The products are not classed as hazardous. Thermaclean can be recycled, but not by the customer, as the product needs to be distilled. Cray Valley UK plans to build a recycling plant ready for 2010. Cray Valley is also introducing another new product – Norsodyne® Easylam general purpose unsaturated polyester resin – designed to
Easylam unsaturated polyester resin is designed for use in hand lay-up and sprayup moulding techniques.
provide cost savings for general purpose moulders. Intended for application using hand layup and spray-up techniques, Easylam is reported to offer improved wet out, reduced fibre print-through, reduced styrene content, less glass fibre use, and labour savings, resulting in a potential 30% laminate cost saving. Cray Valley UK; www.crayvalley.co.uk
Cray Valley introduces ester-based cleaner POLYESTER RESINS and gelcoats supplier Cray Valley is launching the Thermaclean® range of cleaning agents for the composites industry in Europe. These ester-based cleaners have been developed as a replacement for acetone, dichloromethane and other solvent-based cleaners. Thermaclean products are nonvolatile, resulting in reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nonflammable. The Thermaclean technology is being transferred to Europe from CCP in the USA, which together with Cray Valley and Sartomer forms part of French group Total’s Chemical branch. Thermaclean has 15 years experience in North America. The products went into manufacture in November in France and will
12
REINFORCEDplastics
be available for sale in the UK in early January. Trial quantities are available now. Thermaclean products can be used to flush gel-coat or resin process equipment and in dip tank and wipe-down cleaning of tools and equipment parts. There is no need to dilute the product – it can be used straight from the container. The Thermaclean range includes the Unisolve EX Cleaner, which is designed for cleaning tools, mixing and other equipment in any process using filled or unfilled polyester resins and gel-coats such as sheet/bulk moulding compound (SMC/BMC) and resin transfer moulding (RTM). A second product, Gunflush ES, has been developed to replace acetone in the cleaning of gel-coat and resin
December 2008
spray guns. Pre-impregnated wipes are also available. Although around twice the price of acetone, the esterbased Thermaclean products can dissolve up to 30% more resin than the same quantity of acetone. Cleaning time takes slightly longer than acetone. Thermaclean products do not have a specific lifespan and can be used several years after purchase. The products are not classed as hazardous. Thermaclean can be recycled, but not by the customer, as the product needs to be distilled. Cray Valley UK plans to build a recycling plant ready for 2010. Cray Valley is also introducing another new product – Norsodyne® Easylam general purpose unsaturated polyester resin – designed to
Easylam unsaturated polyester resin is designed for use in hand lay-up and sprayup moulding techniques.
provide cost savings for general purpose moulders. Intended for application using hand layup and spray-up techniques, Easylam is reported to offer improved wet out, reduced fibre print-through, reduced styrene content, less glass fibre use, and labour savings, resulting in a potential 30% laminate cost saving. Cray Valley UK; www.crayvalley.co.uk