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Step 6Isophthalic Tooling Resin - Cabosil - Mold Surface
Isophthalic Tooling resin is a fancy name for a type of polyester resin. It's a fun word to say too. It's catalyst is MEK-P - Methyl Ethyl Keytone Peroxide. MEKP More on this later in the step.
Cabosil is a thixotropic thickening agent. Cabosil, unlike micro balloons, becomes a homogeneous component of the resin. Micro balloons does not - but, they provide a lattice matrix (of spheres) which increases strength without increasing much weight (after all - it's mostly air).
Thixotropic means that if you leave the material alone, it will act as a gel. But, if you agitate it by brushing or mixing, it will act like a thinner fluid. This is how we can have a coating that stays were you put it and can be applied like a liquid.
Cabosil is fumed silica - but is not a glass. It is also VERY light. Most of the shipping weight of the 5 gallon bucket came from the weight of the bucket. I could put my hand in the stuff and it was as if nothing was around it. Another name for it is Aerosil - because fumed silica is very much like aerogel - in a particulate form. And if you didn't know before, aerogel has the lowest density of any solid known or made by man.
Lastly, Cabosil is a trade name - Cabosil is to fumed silica as Rollerblades are to inline skates. There is a brand name called "Cab-O-Sil" just like RollerBlade is a brand owned by Nike.
Our mold surface will be formed from a layer of resin that has been thickened with Cabosil and catalyzed by the MEK-P. Application in the next step.
A word about MEK-P
If you read the wiki, you already know it's related to Peroxyacetone (acetone peroxide). And yes, MEK-P will decompose rapidly (some would call it an explosion) if you give it enough of a shock. The MEK-P you buy for tooling is not 100% concentration - so it's quite hard to get it to decompose. That being said - respect these properties.
MEK-P IS A CORROSIVE - IT WILL EAT YOUR FLESH - IT MAY CAUSE OPTICAL NERVE DAMAGE - IT WILL ATTACK ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. This is the most dangerous compound of the process. It's powerful enough that we only need about 10cc per quart (1% of the resin). Epoxy based resins are safer in this regard, but MUCH more expensive. Additionally, this will eat most foams - so do not apply to bare foam plugs.
WEAR GLOVES AND PROTECT YOURSELF. Once you open the bottle, do not touch your face, ears, etc.
Cabosil is a thixotropic thickening agent. Cabosil, unlike micro balloons, becomes a homogeneous component of the resin. Micro balloons does not - but, they provide a lattice matrix (of spheres) which increases strength without increasing much weight (after all - it's mostly air).
Thixotropic means that if you leave the material alone, it will act as a gel. But, if you agitate it by brushing or mixing, it will act like a thinner fluid. This is how we can have a coating that stays were you put it and can be applied like a liquid.
Cabosil is fumed silica - but is not a glass. It is also VERY light. Most of the shipping weight of the 5 gallon bucket came from the weight of the bucket. I could put my hand in the stuff and it was as if nothing was around it. Another name for it is Aerosil - because fumed silica is very much like aerogel - in a particulate form. And if you didn't know before, aerogel has the lowest density of any solid known or made by man.
Lastly, Cabosil is a trade name - Cabosil is to fumed silica as Rollerblades are to inline skates. There is a brand name called "Cab-O-Sil" just like RollerBlade is a brand owned by Nike.
Our mold surface will be formed from a layer of resin that has been thickened with Cabosil and catalyzed by the MEK-P. Application in the next step.
A word about MEK-P
If you read the wiki, you already know it's related to Peroxyacetone (acetone peroxide). And yes, MEK-P will decompose rapidly (some would call it an explosion) if you give it enough of a shock. The MEK-P you buy for tooling is not 100% concentration - so it's quite hard to get it to decompose. That being said - respect these properties.
MEK-P IS A CORROSIVE - IT WILL EAT YOUR FLESH - IT MAY CAUSE OPTICAL NERVE DAMAGE - IT WILL ATTACK ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. This is the most dangerous compound of the process. It's powerful enough that we only need about 10cc per quart (1% of the resin). Epoxy based resins are safer in this regard, but MUCH more expensive. Additionally, this will eat most foams - so do not apply to bare foam plugs.
WEAR GLOVES AND PROTECT YOURSELF. Once you open the bottle, do not touch your face, ears, etc.
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