Cost Effective Procedures and Tank Maintenance
We talk to many customers who tell us a frustrating and critical situation faced is when a tank of solventless resin needs immediate adjustment. While the situation can be corrected, it's easier and much more cost-effective to prevent the problem by employing proper procedures and tank maintenance. While many Dolph products, such as our CC-1105, CC-1305 and CC-1405 are low maintenance, keep in mind that all resins require care.
Several circumstances can contribute to a tank's contents progressing to high viscosity (advancing to gelation). Here's how to retard that process in most cases.
Cool it before you dip!
Hot dipping, dipping parts straight from the pre-heat in excess of 150°F, can alter the tank's viscosity. It's important to communicate to the shop personnel that motors and transformers should be cooled to about 130-150ºF before they are dipped. This cooling-off period helps control the quality of the tank and the results of the dip.
Put a lid on it!
When not in use, cover your tanks. Why? GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). This holds true for many things, and your tank is one of them. Keep water contamination, silicone produce and grease-type masking agents out of your tank by keeping it covered. These contaminants can adversely affect adhesion and properties of polyester resins.
Also, covering your tank helps maintain its contents' temperature, another positive.
Easy does it!
While it is important to thoroughly mix your tank's contents when starting up a tank or replenishing resins, constant agitation is detrimental to your resin's health.
To sustain proper viscosity, it is very important that the tank be protected from continuous air or mechanical agitation. If the tank is exposed to constant movement and air is entrapped, its viscosity will increase and perhaps even its gel time will shorten. Therefore, please make sure that the tank is stabilized on the shop floor.
Gone fishing? Check the tank!
If a tank's activity has been reduced, it's important to have its contents checked out at our lab. Changes can take place even in a static tank.
Keep it cool!
Resins do best when stored at temperatures of 70°F or less. To get the best results on your parts, take care of the resin before and after it gets to your tank.
We hope these tips help you and your customers attain the best possible results with Dolph products.
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