For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jed Nitzberg for Zyvax
Ogilvy Public Relations
404-881-2319
jed.nitzberg@ogilvypr.com
Scott Layman, Zyvax
706-698-4405
scottlayman@zyvax.com
Tampa – October 6, 2004 – Zyvax (a leading producer of mold release products) will demonstrate to attendees of Composites 2004 its innovative, integrated slipcoat system Flex-Z, which was launched in March 2004. Since then, more and more customers around the world are finding that they have unprecedented levels of control over their molds’ levels of release, especially under difficult conditions.
Flex-Z was developed after Zyvax conducted a study to document the scope of problems with molding irregularities affecting the behavior of the gelcoat and/or laminated parts during cure cycles in the mold. The research showed that irregularities covered a range of issues from material to material, season to season, mold to mold, and even from feature to feature on the same mold. The increasing complexity of mold design (some molds developed with relief areas so deep that the gelcoat technicians could not even see some areas being sprayed nor could they gauge the thickness of what they were applying) meant that a new type of product was needed to increase the bond strength on the large female and blind features to prevent warpage or pre-release and at the same time increase the slip on the male and textured surfaces to prevent stuck parts.
Zyvax concluded that molders lacked tools to handle each molding issue so as to reduce scrap and rework costs and streamline profitable production. They put their experts to work on the problem and the result was Flex-Z.
Flex-Z, for the first time in polyester molding history, lets molders apply simultaneous “levels” of product to one mold to achieve the specific type of release needed. For example, one portion of the mold might require 3.0, another uses 1.0 while another part uses 4.0 – all at the same time. Flex-Z achieves this “flexible” performance through its array of six resin polymers comprising a quantifiable spectrum of release coating properties. Since each Flex-Z product shares a common root platform, the conversion from 1.0 through 6.0 is achieved by simply applying the desired release level directly over any Flex-Z product and in 15 minutes the mold is ready to run again.
There are many other features that add to Flex-Z’s uniqueness and provide extra benefits to the molder:
- It is packaged as an easy-to-use, color-coded and numbered system (from Z1.0 – Minimum Slip to Z6.0 – Extra Slip). By referencing the graph on each Flex-Z label, the molder can easily see the current level of slip on each mold and select the increment of adjustment up or down he feels is needed to achieve a good part.
- The products work on any size or type of mold.
- The entire product system is suitable for all open and closed molding processes, from wet lay-up to RTM and infusion.
- Using new GLOSSCOAT technology, Flex-Z reduces prep time and eliminates streaking across the full range of application techniques, making retraining unnecessary.
- Styrene build up is reduced, which means molds stay cleaner for longer periods of time.
- Gel coat “sag” on vertical surfaces is eliminated.
- The HAP-free formula meets new emission restrictions.
Flex-Z is currently available in North America and in Europe. Package sizes include single cans, pails and drums. For questions about Zyvax products and availability please call (800) 858-4111 in the United States or +34 96 338 43 38 in Europe, or e-mail cco@zyvax.com
