Vinyl ester resin for corrosion-resistant FRP and engineered composites
SWANCOR 901-3 is a Bisphenol A epoxy vinyl ester resin. According to the manufacturer's TDS, it provides resistance to a broad range of organic and inorganic chemical environments together with tensile, flexural and toughness performance for reinforced composite structures.
The cured resin has a typical heat distortion temperature of 100–102°C by ASTM D648. The TDS also lists tensile strength of 11,000–14,000 psi, tensile elongation of 5–6% and flexural strength of 17,000–20,000 psi for clear-cast resin under the manufacturer’s test conditions.
Typical applications
- Resistance to many acids, alkalis, oxidizing chemicals and salt solutions
- Good mechanical performance with glass, carbon or Kevlar reinforcement
- Applications include tanks, pipes, scrubbers, ducts and FGD systems
- Suitable for wastewater, pure-water and selected food-contact applications
- Processable by hand lay-up, spray-up, RTM, pultrusion and filament winding
- Standard packaging: 200 kg steel drum; IBC and ISO tank by arrangement
Fabrication methods
SWANCOR 901-3 can be processed by hand lay-up, spray-up, pultrusion, resin transfer molding (RTM) and filament winding. The TDS also lists polymer-concrete casting. Catalyst, promoter and gel-time settings should be adjusted to the actual ambient temperature, process and production requirements.
Typical liquid-resin properties
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear |
| Solid content | 55 ± 1% |
| Viscosity @25°C | 350–550 cPs |
| Specific gravity | 1.04 ± 0.01 |
| Gel time @25°C | 15–25 min using the catalyst system specified in the TDS |
| Shelf life | 6 months for unpromoted resin |
Typical cured-resin properties
| Property | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 11,000–14,000 psi | ASTM D638 |
| Tensile elongation | 5.0–6.0% | ASTM D638 |
| Flexural strength | 17,000–20,000 psi | ASTM D790 |
| Heat distortion temperature | 100–102°C | ASTM D648 |
| Barcol hardness | 35 ± 3 | ASTM D2583 |
Cure and storage notes
Gel time is primarily affected by catalyst concentration and temperature, and may also change with humidity, pigments, fillers and other additives. The manufacturer recommends checking cure behavior on a small quantity of resin under the actual operating conditions before production.
If cobalt-salt promoter is blended into SWANCOR 901-3, shelf life is shortened and the promoted resin should be used within three months. The product contains styrene and should be kept away from heat, sparks and flames. For optimum stability, store in closed containers, away from direct sunlight and below 25°C.
Packaging
Standard packaging is a 200 kg steel drum. IBC and ISO-tank packaging may be available by arrangement.
The TDS states a six-month shelf life for unpromoted resin. When cobalt-salt promoter is added, the promoted resin should be used within three months. Cure conditions and chemical resistance should be validated for the actual service environment.