Went to find styrene at the hardware store, but they had none. Is there something that will do the same thing that is more available (such as paint thinner, laquer thinner, napthol, or tulene)? Thanks. ps. what exactly is styrene made for anyhow (other than thinning out resin)?
Art: Styrene monomer, look for it at the same place you get your Silmar resin or whatever you are laminating with. I can only tell you that it is one of the major components in the resin and wax solution you buy and if you are going to thin your resin it is all I know to use. This component evaporates easily and will be the missing element in that bucket of resin that sat too long in your garage. My supplier sells everything by the pound, styrene is 7 lbs. to the gallon at $1.50/lb. so about $11.00 per gallon. Lasts me a long time but it is required in mixing your own glossing resin and some deep winter lam jobs. TS>>> Went to find styrene at the hardware store, but they had none. Is there > something that will do the same thing that is more available (such as > paint thinner, laquer thinner, napthol, or tulene)? Thanks.>>> ps. what exactly is styrene made for anyhow (other than thinning out > resin)?
I’ve read that styrene monomer is the only thinner which will become part of the polyester resin cure. Styrene actually becomes part of the completed molecular structure of cured polystyrene. No thinner will completely evaporate before final cure. Most high-volitility solvents actually separate polystyrene components as they try to bond in the curing process. I still painfully remember when I accidentally knocked over a can of acetone into a boat hull being laid up. Arrrrrrrrgh! As far as I know there is no substitute for styrene.