General Purpose Laminating Resin
Unwaxed polyester resin is widely used for fibreglass laminating, repairs and composite fabrication where additional laminate layers will be applied.
Designed For Multi Layer Laminating
Unlike waxed polyester resin, unwaxed resin remains slightly tacky after curing, allowing strong chemical bonding between laminate layers.
MEKP Catalysed Resin System
Polyester laminating resin cures when activated with MEKP catalyst, providing adjustable gel time for fibreglass fabrication and repair work.
Compatible With Fibreglass Reinforcements
Works with chopped strand mat, woven roving, biaxial fabrics and other fibreglass reinforcement materials used in marine and composite construction.
Common Applications
- Fibreglass boat repairs
- Composite moulding and laminating
- Automotive fibreglass panels
- Marine structural laminates
- Fibreglass reinforcement bonding
- General composite fabrication
Technical Specifications
Compare Resin & Surface Systems
| Feature | Polyester Resin | Vinyl Ester Resin | Epoxy Resin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical use | General fibreglass laminating, repairs and moulding | Higher performance laminates and corrosion resistant structures | Structural bonding, premium laminates and advanced composite work |
| Cost level | Most economical | Mid to upper range | Highest cost |
| Mechanical strength | Good general purpose strength | Higher than polyester | Excellent structural performance |
| Water resistance | Good | Very good | Excellent |
| Chemical resistance | Moderate | High | High |
| Adhesion | Good for general laminating | Very good | Excellent across many substrates |
| Catalyst / hardener | MEKP catalyst | MEKP catalyst | Requires dedicated epoxy hardener |
| Best suited for | Cost effective fibreglass fabrication and repair | Marine hulls, tanks, pipes and demanding laminates | Premium marine, timber coating, structural bonding and advanced composites |
Polyester resin is often chosen for economical general fibreglass work, vinyl ester suits higher performance and chemical resistant laminates, while epoxy is the premium option for structural bonding and advanced composite performance.
| Feature | Gelcoat | Flowcoat |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Creates the outer cosmetic and protective surface in moulded fibreglass parts | Provides a protective topcoat for exposed fibreglass surfaces and repairs |
| Wax content | Generally unwaxed | Contains wax for tack free surface cure |
| Typical application stage | Applied first into the mould before reinforcement and resin | Applied as a finishing coat over cured fibreglass laminate |
| Finish quality | High quality moulded surface finish | Durable repair and finishing surface |
| Common uses | Boat hulls, decks, moulded composite parts, marine components | Boat repairs, internal lockers, bilges, protective topcoats and maintenance work |
| Surface cure | Remains tacky without laminate backing or additives | Cures tack free due to wax additive |
| Best suited for | New moulded parts requiring cosmetic outer finish | Repair work and protective finishing over existing laminate |
Gelcoat is primarily used as the outer mould surface finish for new fibreglass parts, while flowcoat is generally used as a tack free finishing coat for repairs, maintenance and exposed internal fibreglass surfaces.
Need CNC Cut Composite Panels?
Iron Link Distributors offers precision CNC machining for Coosa Bluewater composite boards and Divinycell structural foam cores. Send us your drawings, templates or CAD files and we can manufacture custom structural panels, composite inserts and precision cut core materials ready for installation.
- Custom CNC cut Coosa Board and Divinycell core panels
- Precision structural inserts, reinforcement plates and composite components
- CNC nested panel kits for faster installation and reduced waste
- DXF, DWG and PDF file formats accepted
- Quote based service for prototype, one-off or batch production
Perfect For
Boat transoms, bulkheads, deck cores, composite sandwich panels, cabinetry components, reinforcement plates, seating structures and marine or industrial composite parts requiring accurate CNC machining and repeatable precision.