Active diluent NOVA

Reactive Diluent NOVA is a difunctional reactive diluent for epoxy resin systems. It is added to the resin component to reduce viscosity and facilitate processing in laminating, casting and impregnation applications.

The lower resin viscosity improves the wetting of reinforcement materials such as glass, carbon and aramid fabrics. This is particularly beneficial when processing fine fabrics, complex component geometries, narrow gaps, casting applications or any process requiring improved resin flow.

Unlike volatile solvents, Reactive Diluent NOVA does not evaporate but becomes chemically integrated into the cured epoxy resin network. Its difunctional molecular structure results in only a comparatively minor influence on important material properties such as mechanical strength, chemical resistance and heat resistance.

Advantages

• Effective reduction of epoxy resin viscosity
• Solvent-free and permanently integrated into the cured resin system
• Difunctional structure with only minor influence on key material properties
• Improves resin flow and fibre wetting
• Facilitates laminating, casting and impregnation processes
• Suitable for mould making, model making, composite manufacturing and industrial applications

Typical applications

• Hand lay-up and vacuum laminating
• Resin infusion and impregnation of fabrics and non-crimp reinforcements
• Epoxy casting applications
• Mould and pattern making
• CFRP and GFRP components
• Repair, development and laboratory applications

Dosage

Add the reactive diluent to the resin component. The recommended addition level is up to 10%. The optimum dosage depends on the epoxy resin system used, the desired viscosity reduction and the performance requirements of the finished component.

Material properties

Reactive Diluent NOVA may increase the elongation at break and impact resistance of the cured epoxy resin. However, increasing the addition level may reduce heat resistance as well as tensile, compressive and flexural strength. Therefore, the dosage should be limited to the amount required for the intended processing characteristics.