Alumilite "Full Cure Schedule"

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chrisk

chrisk

Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
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822
Location
Brussels, Belgium
From the "Alumilite's Clear Instructions"

"Full Cure Schedule: 5 to 7 days at room temperature, or 16 hours at 150-180 degrees F...

"Heat Curing: (Less than 1/8" must be post cured)
Generally, for most application, ambient temperature curing is adequate; however, maximum physical properties and heat resistance is obtained by post curing for 16 hours at 150 to 180 degrees F, or for 6 to 8 hours at 180 to 210 degrees F. Parts may require some support during heat curing. A suggested cure schedule is: 3 to 5 days at room temperature (to minimize any softening during heating), followed by 4 to 6 hours at 130 to 150 degrees F, and an additional 16 hours at 160 to 180 degrees F. This cure schedule minimizes part distortion and shrinkage, while affording maximum toughness and heat sag resistance."

I just began to try some Alumilite Clear resin I purchased from their distributor in Belgium. And I was excited for, unlike their Smooth-On counterpart, the Alumilite Clear didn't need any heat curing. At least that's what I thought before reading the attached Alumilite instructions.

Anyway, what are you doing concretely after demolding? Do you leave the blank aside for 5 to 7 days, heat curing, ...?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Christos.
 
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I don't think you have to heat cure Alumilite

I don't think you need to heat cure if you've got enough time to let the casts sit for a week.

I've cut my "slab" casts up within an hour of demolding sometimes, then made a pen from it and it worked out fine. Most of my blanks sit at least a week before use though.

I did notice on a casting from a 1.5" tube that it needed to sit a few days, before that it was a bit "rubbery".

I've also performed the heat treating, not for that length of time, just for an hour and a half at 180 and it does make the casting harder quicker.

I'd suggest that when you cast you give yourself a bit of time for the casting to cure without heat.

Sit back, have some of that excellent Belgium beer and relax while you watch your blanks "cure". :beer:
 
Thank you all for sharing your experience.

I heat treated a batch of blanks I casted with Smooth-On urethan resin. With the Alumilite blanks instead, I'll follow your advice... that is drinking Belgian beers... :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 
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