Acrylic Resin
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R 86.00
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- A white, fast curing, water-based resin.
- Commonly used for cladding and for casting into moulds.
- Easy to create beautiful shades with our Allure Resin Colourants.
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Acrylic Resin
Acrylic Resin
While significant information is given here, you can download instructions and more detail as a PDF document from this page. A hard copy will be supplied with purchased resin.
Overview
This water-based resin is an organic composite that cures quickly to a hard finish. The finish looks and feels like smooth stone. A very similar, well known product is Jesmonite AC100.
This Acrylic Resin can replace epoxy resins, gypsum plaster and even concrete in a variety of applications.
We sell this resin for casting i.e. for pouring into moulds. A high level of mould detail is reproducible. It is also ideally suited for hand or spray lamination to create lightweight cladding systems (specific instructions are required for this application).
The resin is white and is easily tinted to beautiful shades using our Allure Resin Colourants. As the resin is white, you cannot achieve dark shades.
Filler material such as marble powder and silica sand can be added at high levels, even up to 200% by weight (see detailed information document).
The cured resin has a natural matt finish.
The resin has almost no shrinkage on curing and the cured resin is very UV and chemical resistant. It is easy to clean with soap and water. It is scuff resistant.
As the cured resin is porous, it should be sealed with our Clear Top Coat (Matt or Gloss).
Sufficiently heat resistant and suitable for coasters if coated with 2 coats of our Clear Top Coat.
Some applications require reinforcement with triaxial fabric or glass flakes. Some castings e.g. hollow castings require the preparation of a gelcoat by adding Thixotropic Thickener to the resin. This will prevent the resin from flowing freely (see detailed information document).
Comparison between Acrylic Resin and Epoxy Resin
- Acrylic Resin is significantly cheaper than Epoxy Resin.
- Acrylic Resin is a water-based resin.
- Acrylic Resin is opaque white, Epoxy Resin is clear.
- Acrylic Resin cures quickly (usually castings can be removed from moulds after only 45 minutes), Epoxy Resin typically takes 24 to 48 hours to cure. This also means that Acrylic Resin has a relatively short pot life and should be used soon after mixing.
- One part of Acrylic Resin is a powder and one part is a liquid. With epoxy resins, both parts are liquids.
- Acrylic Resin should be sealed with a sealer in applications where it will get wet. Epoxy Resins do not require sealing.
- Being water-based, Acrylic Resin does not cause allergies and is not a skin irritant (of course you should still avoid excess skin contact). The hardener of epoxy resins is a skin irritant and some people develop allergies to amines in epoxy resin hardener. Acrylic Resin has zero VOCs and is generally more environmentally and health friendly than epoxy resin.
- The natural finish of Acrylic Resin is matt while Epoxy Resins tend to have a glossy finish.
Comparison between Acrylic Resin and Gypsum Plaster
- Gypsum Plaster is also prepared by mixing a powder and liquid but the liquid is water, whereas in Acrylic Resin the liquid is an acrylic binder.
- Acrylic resin is significantly stronger than gypsum plaster and does not chip or break as easily.
- Acrylic Resin achieves more detail when poured into moulds and gives a smoother finish than gypsum plaster.
Colouring, Filling and Creating Effects
As Acrylic Resin is opaque, there is no use adding sparkle pigment or glitter into the resin. Pearlescent Powders are also largely wasted if added into the resin.
Beautiful shades can be created using our Allure Resin Colourants. All the Acrylic Resin coloured blocks shown in the pictures are created by adding 2 drops of our Allure Liquid Colourants into 23g of mixed resin. You should always use very highly concentrated colourants like our Allure Resin Colourants. As the resin is naturally white, you cannot colour it to dark colours.
Acrylic Resin should be sealed if it is likely to be in contact with significant amounts of water. Our Clear Top Coat is an excellent sealer. Use Clear Top Coat Matt to retain the natural matt appearance or create a gloss finish with our Clear Top Coat Gloss. Our Clear Top has sufficient heat resistance to use on items such as cup coasters.
Acrylic Resin can be painted directly with high quality acrylic paints. Our Metallic Paints offer a great option to create a glossy metallic finish and simultaneously serve as a sealer.
Marble Powder, silica sand or our Texturing Glass Beads can also be used as a filler (as the Texturing Glass Beads will settle to the bottom, they do not usually create texture in resins).
Finishes including stone effects can be created. If you are interested in these effects, we suggest you get ideas from YouTube.
Triaxial Fabric or Glass Flakes can be used to improve the strength of some castings. These are required where castings will be hollow and for weight bearing applications such as when making stool tops or serving trays.
Acrylic Resin Instructions
The mix ratio is 2 parts M1 Powder to 1 part M1 Liquid by weight. You must measure the liquid and powder on a scale. Add the powder to the liquid while stirring. Don't add the liquid to the powder as lumps may be difficult to stir out.
Use the mixed resin soon after mixing. Usually you should pour the resin into moulds within 15-20 minutes.
Depending on the conditions and size of the casting, the resin is often cured sufficiently to remove from moulds after 45 minutes. Demould as soon as the resin is hard enough to do so.
Sealing Acrylic Resin
The cured resin is hard but can be damaged by significant water contact. For resin that will be used in exterior environments or is likely to get wet, you should seal it by simply painting on 2 coats of our Clear Top Coat. Using Clear Top Coat Matt will retain the lovely natural matt appearance while a glossy finish can be created by using our Clear Top Coat Gloss. Applying a clear gloss product will also make the colours appear bolder.
Removal from the mould is done very soon (usually within 60 minutes). After this, time is required for excess water to evaporate before sealing or painting. The time required depends on the resin thickness and the ambient conditions but always wait at least 1-2 weeks.
Acrylic Resin Pack
The pack is convenient for people who want to make something but have no existing resin supplies. You can make lots of coloured, perfectly sealed, large, glossy coasters.
The pack consists of the following:
- 0.75kg Acrylic Resin
- Disc Coaster Mould (11.5cm x 11.5cm)
- Allure Resin Colourant: Green
- Allure Resin Colourant: Blue
- Allure Resin Colourant: Magenta
- Allure Resin Colourant: Earth Red
- Clear Top Coat Gloss: 110ml
Safety and Health
Acrylic resins are water-based and do not pose any significant risks. As always, avoid breathing dust (use a fabric dust mask when pouring powder or sanding), avoid excess skin contact and never get any chemicals in your eyes. Unlike epoxy resins, there is very little possibility of developing skin irritation or an allergy from acrylic resins.
Acrylic resins have zero VOCs and do not give off harmful vapours when curing.
Keep out of reach of children and people who require supervision.
Unit Size |
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| Unit Size |
0.75kg (Resin + Hardener)
1.50kg (Resin + Hardener)
3.00kg (Resin + Hardener)
15.00kg (Resin + Hardener)
Acrylic Resin Pack
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