Other applications
Artificial stone, solid surface and polyconcrete are all made basically
by the same process. Unsaturated polyester resins are mixed with fillers,
pigments and catalysts. The mixed is poured in a mould and de-aerated by
vibration and/or exposure to vacuum conditions. The proportion of fillers can
range up to 95 % by weight of the total mixture. By choosing the proper type
of filler a wide range of products can be made that all serve a different
market.
For solid surface applications hard and decorative filler materials like
granite is used to achieve a hard surface in the desired colors and texture.
In making artificial stone, different grades of sand and gravel are used to
achieve the desired effect.
Solid Surface
Thermoset-based solid surface is produced or cast
by combining unsaturated polyester resin with a combination of fillers, such
as granite, pigments and catalysts. This combined mix is poured or "cast" into
moulds which form the matrix into either flat panels or customized shapes.
After demoulding the cast products are cut to size and polished to a high
degree of pore free surface.
Solid surface products are well known for a number of very specific benefits
in performance, such as
• Non porous surface, it resists bacterial and
fungal growth and is easy to clean and maintain
• It will resist heat,
stain and impact
• Easily cleaned and maintained
• It
shows an unlimited design potential in numerous colors and textures
The largest market for solid surface is kitchen countertops. The design
flexibility, color and texture options and performance attributes of solid
surface are driving more and more builders, architects, designers and
homeowners to choose solid surface. Similar formulations are used for the
production of sanitary articles like wash basins and shower bottoms.
Artificial stone
Artificial stone is an imitation of brick or
natural stone, used for building walls or repairing damaged brick work walls.
Artificial stone is made in the form of slabs that can be cut or sawn to the
desired dimensions. It can be glued on top of existing brickwork. It is also
used widely for the production of floor tiles.
Polyconcrete
Polyconcrete consists basically of a mixture of
polyester resin and sand in different particle size distributions. The mixture
is poured into mould and de-aerated through a vibration step. Products made of
polyconcrete are gratings, drainage gutters, cattle feeding troughs, etc.
Truck flat panels
The material properties of composites make
these materials very suitable for applications in the transport industry. The
use of GRP is based on a number of sound arguments:
• Compared to steel, GRP parts are approx. 40 % lighter at the same stiffness.
This leads to a substantial reduction of weight and thus a better fuel
economy.
• The excellent impact resistance of GRP offers protection
against damage by stone chips and hailstones.
• GRP offers a good
corrosion and weather resistance, which guarantees a very long service life.
In the truck industry flat GRP panels are used to a large extent for the
production of refrigerated trucks and containers. The panels consist of two
outer shells of composite laminates on a polyurethane inner foam core. These
panels exhibit an outstanding stiffness and thermal insulating properties.
Combined with their light weight they are the material of choice for the
transport industry.
