Applied Molecules launches UV-curable repair and filler resin

Applied Molecules LLC (Dexter, Mich., U.S.), a manufacturer of UV-curable adhesives and sealants, has launched the AJ13 Series of UV-curable composite repair and filler materials. Delivered in an easy-dispense bottle, AJ13 can be applied directly to a composite sandwich or laminate edge to provide a seal against water and other fluid ingress. AJ13 can also be applied to repair small defects in finished composite parts.

Applied Molecules CEO Paul Snowwhite says AJ13 conveys two significant advantages in composites-related applications: First, because it’s UV-curable, it can be quickly applied and cross-linked in just seconds with any UV light source. Second, AJ13’s chemistry — based on acrylic, urethane and epoxy — is highly tunable and can be modified to match the CTE of the base resin in the composite part to which it is being applied.

Snowwhite also reports that AJ13 can be applied in repair applications without the use of a fiber reinforcement patch, as is common for traditional composites repair. He adds that the largest damage AJ13 has repaired was about 1 inch diameter. Further, AJ13 can be sanded and painted immediately after cure and has been used by customers to seal or repair SMC, carbon fiber and other composite parts.

David Whitinger, business development at Applied Molecules, says AJ13 has been tested and qualified by four suppliers in the automotive supply chain and one manufacturer of composite structures for the marine industry. The company is working on new versions of AJ13, including one that will change color when fully cross-linked to help the user know when cure is complete. For more information about AJ13, contact Whitinger davidwhitinger@msn.com.