East Coast Fibreglass CATALYST ADDITION CHART

East Coast Fibreglass Guide to quantity estimating for fibreglass laminating
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
5kg 200ml 150ml 100ml 50ml
6kg 240ml 180ml 120ml 60ml
7kg 280ml 210ml 140ml 70ml
8kg 320ml 240ml 160ml 80ml
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
East Coast Fibreglass Guide to quantity estimating for fibreglass laminating
300g Woven Roving 300g Resin per sq mt

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
200g Carbon Fibre 300g 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.
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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East Coast Fibreglass Guide to quantity estimating for fibreglass laminating

East Coast Fibreglass CATALYST ADDITION CHART

RESIN CATALYST CATALYST CATALYST CATALYST

Based upon Medium reactivity catalyst Butanox M50.

Do’s and Don’ts

Guidelines for estimating Resin to Fibreglass ratios – These are approximations

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

300g Woven Roving 300g Resin per sq mt

200g Carbon Fibre 300g Resin per sq mt

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

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