5/13/2019 Estimating Resin Quantities in Composites

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Estimating Quantities
East Coast Fibreglass CATALYST ADDITION CHART

% of Catalyst to Resin 4% Catalyst 3% Catalyst 2% Catalyst 1% catalyst

Temperature 5 - 13°C 13 - 16°C 16 - 20°C 20 - 35°C

RESIN CATALYST CATALYST CATALYST CATALYST

500g 20ml 15ml 10ml 5ml

1kg 40ml 30ml 20ml 10ml

2kg 80ml 60ml 40ml 20ml

3kg 120ml 90ml 60ml 30ml

4kg 160ml 120ml 80ml 40ml

5kg 200ml 150ml 100ml 50ml

6kg 240ml 180ml 120ml 60ml

7kg 280ml 210ml 140ml 70ml

8kg 320ml 240ml 160ml 80ml

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5/13/2019 Estimating Resin Quantities in Composites

9kg 360ml 270ml 180ml 90ml

10kg 400ml 300ml 200ml 100ml

Based upon Medium reactivity catalyst Butanox M50.

Please consult the Technical data sheet for your particular Resin before use, the above chart is
merely a general guide to cover most general purpose resins.

Do’s and Don’ts

1. Measure catalyst accurately and stir thoroughly into Resin, wearing appropriate PPE.
2. A Catalyst dispenser is ideally required for accurate measuring.
3. The cure of the resin will begin as soon as the catalyst is added, and the speed of the
reaction will depend upon the particular resin and activity of the catalyst.
4. Do not mix more resin than you can practically use, work in smaller more manageable
amounts if necessary. Unused resin in volume will cure and an exothermic reaction will occur. If
you have any volume of resin left over move to a safe spot outdoors and fill container with cold
water. This reaction is exothermic and the temperature can rise to over 150 degrees Celsius in
an unfilled casting, in the laminate it will be considerably less.
5. Once the resin starts turning to a jelly like consistency, you must immediately stop laminating
and clean your tools, finishing off your immediate area.
6. Always use 2% catalyst in Gelcoats.
7. If adding pigment do so first and thoroughly stir in mixing well before adding catalyst, be
careful not to under or over pigment.

Guidelines for estimating Resin to Fibreglass ratios – These are approximations and for
guideline use only, variations/complexity of laminate/mould surface may alter quantities slightly.

Material Resin

300g (1oz) CSM 650g Resin per sq mt

450g (1 ½ oz) CSM 1kg Resin per sq mt
600g (2oz) CSM 1.4kg Resin per sq mt
900g (1oz) CSM 2 kg Resin per sq mt
125g Plain weave Glass cloth 150g Resin per sq mt
200g Plain weave Glass cloth 250g Resin per sq mt
300g Woven Roving 300g Resin per sq mt
600g Woven Roving 600g Resin per sq mt
800g Woven Roving 800g Resin per sq mt

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5/13/2019 Estimating Resin Quantities in Composites

600/300 Combination Matt 1.2 kg Resin per sq mt

800/450 Combination Matt 1.7 Kg Resin per sq mt
450g Biaxial Glassfibre 500g Resin per sq mt
600g Biaxial Glassfibre 700g Resin per sq mt
800g Biaxial Glassfibre 900g Resin per sq mt

200g Carbon Fibre 300g Resin per sq mt

375g Carbon Fibre 550g Resin per sq mt
650g Carbon Fibre 950g Resin per sq mt
180g Kevlar/Aramid 270g resin per sq mt
300g Kevlar/Aramid 450g resin per sq mt

Calculating quantities

To estimate the quantities of materials for your particular project you will need to know the
surface area in square metres.

For example, you want to make a part 7mm thick out of Fibreglass and have a Gelcoat finish
and your mould is 3 sq mt in total.

Gelcoat is applied 600g per sq mt, so 3 x 600g = 1.8 Kg of Gelcoat is required.

Chopped strand matting: Each layer of 600g is approx 1mm thick so you would need 6 layers.
6 layers x .600g matt = 3.6 kg per sq mt x 3mt (mould area) = 10.8 Kg of 600g matt is required.

Resin is calculated between 2 – 2.5: 1 Resin to Glass ratio. So, you have 10.8 kg of fibreglass
matting, 10.8 x 2 = 21.6 kg of Resin minimum, say 25kg of resin to be safe.

If the Gelcoat that is applied at just over 0.5mm and 6 layers of Glass each 1mm, your laminate
should be approximately 6 -7 mm thick. This varies upon operator, some experienced laminators
are very good at keeping the resin:glass ratio down to the minimum, whilst others new to
laminating will use more resin, this will effect the weight of the panel and can cause varying
degrees in laminate thickness.
Good consolidation of the laminate is key, use a paddle/washer or any other type of
consolidating roller between each layer, draw the resin through and apply more resin only if
there are any dry patches, repeat this throughout lamination for best results.

Click here to download a pdf version of this guide

(http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/images/PDFs/estimating_quantities.pdf)

This advice and information is given in good faith for guidance only. and is given without
warranty, users should determine information given and using their own judgment to determine
suitability.
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