XCR™ Epoxy Coating Resin is an extreme performance, high clarity clear epoxy varnish developed for demanding visual applications including carbon fibre skinning, board manufacture and wood finishing. XCR is intended for use where laminates will remain unpainted, showcasing reinforcements like carbon fibre or natural fibres, inlaid graphics or beautiful wood grains.
To ensure the perfect finish, XCR carbon fibre skinning resin uses special technology to enhance fibre wet-out and expel trapped air. Its fast cure allows multiple layers to be built-up in minimum time, significantly speeding up 'skinning' processes requiring multiple coats.
XCR will cure to a hard, durable, UV resistant finish which can be flatted and polished to a high gloss or over-painted with a suitable clear coat/lacquer. The resin offers excellent cured mechanical properties making it suitable for use laminating or finishing sports/recreational equipment.
XCR's distinctive 'purple' colour is due to the advanced UV protection agents used in the resin. Once mixed with its hardener this colour diminishes and when used as directed as a thin coating, the tint is barely detectable and in fact enhances the appearance of fibres (such as carbon fibre) and inlaid graphics. Once cured, XCR needs to be flatted (using abrasive paper) and then polished (using a cutting/polishing compound) to achieve a high gloss finish.
XCR Epoxy Coating Resin is NOT intended as a coating resin for artwork. Although XCR is suitable for a range of equipment used on water, it is not rated for permanent immersion in water.
Typical Uses
XCR Epoxy Coating Resin due to its high performance and stunning visual clarity can be used for a wide range of uses including but not limited to:
- Sports/recreational equipment - like skis, boards or boat decking
- Overlaying Materials - such as inlaid graphics/logos, instruments, wooden furniture/art.
- Board Making - Watersports and land sports based boards.
- Skinning - especially carbon fibre and other fabrics both natural and technical used with our XCR Black Epoxy Basecoat .
Further Information
Hardener Crystallisation
The Hardener is sensitive to low temperatures and if the hardener gets cold (either in storage or transport), it can crystallise; this does not damage the hardener at all and can be reversed by warming the hardener in its container with the lid securely in place. The longer it has been crystallised, the longer it will take to reverse. This can be achieved by sitting it directly onto a radiator, putting it into an oven on a low setting or standing the container in hot water. We recommend mixing the resin at around 20C to prevent it crystallising while being mixed or used.
Compatibility Information - Dos and Don'ts
Although by no means an exhaustive list, the materials, pigments and additives listed below have all been tested and are known to work well with XCR Epoxy Coating Resin.
Compatible Moulds
- Epoxy, Polyester & Vinylester mould systems
- EPS & PU foams/modelboards.
- Carbon & glass woven fabrics
- Natural fabrics & materials - eg flax, jute, denim, cotton etc.
- Wood
Compatible Pigments
- Epoxy Colour Pigment (for vivid opaque colours)
- Translucent Tinting Pigment (for less vivid opaque colours)
Compatible Fillers
- All dry filler powders
- Metal Powders
- Photoluminescent (glow in the dark) powders
Key Processing Information
- Ease of Use: Suitable for professional and hobby use (follow SDS advice).
- Odour: XCR Coating Resin is almost odourless.
- Safety Precautions: Wear gloves and goggles and work in a well ventilated area. Always read the SDS before use.
- Ambient Conditions: Can be used from 15 to 30°C although pot-life and cure time will be affected significantly. For best results laminating at an ambient of 20-25°C is required.
- Degassing: Not necessary. Simply mix and use.
- Mix Ratio: Mix 'Resin and 'Hardener' 100:41 by weight. Use digital scales.
- Mixing: Mix thoroughly by hand for at around 1 minute.
- Pot-Life: 8 minutes. Be sure to pour your casting(s) before this time.
- Exotherm (Over-Heating): Resin will heat-up whilst it cures. Very large batches of mixed resin in a pot will quickly overheat (exotherm) and can smoke/ignite. Never leave mixed resin unattended
- Maximum Thickness: Maximum thickness per layer is 1mm.
- Overcoat Time: 2 hour 51 minutes at 20°C
- Initial Cure Time/Demould: Initial cure time is 8 hours 33 minutes to touch dry. Full hardness achieved over 24 hours, ambient temperature dependent.
- Pigments and Fillers: A wide range of pigments and fillers (including metal powders) can be added to change the appearance.
For more detailed process specific information, full instructions and mechanical data, please download the technical datasheet from the datasheets tab.
Carbon Fibre Skinning - Video Tutorial
To see how XCR Clear Epoxy Coating Resin is used as part of the XCR Carbon Fibre Skinning process, take a look at the video tutorial below for our XCR Carbon Fibre Skinning Starter Kit.
How to Cover Existing Parts in Carbon Fibre - XCR Skinning Tutorial
Overlaminating with Other Materials
In the same way that XCR can be used to apply a glossy, hard wearing 'skin' of carbon fibre to any part, it can also be used to apply a durable, glossy layer of almost any fabric or material to a wide range of objects including furniture, interior trim or even music instruments. Materials including natural fibres (coconut mat, coffee sacks, flax), fabrics (denim, printed fabrics) and technical materials can all be used to create stunning, unique surfaces to a wide range of objects.
Board Building and General Laminating
Not only does XCR provide a clear, vibrant finish to a range of reinforcements and substrates, it also has excellent mechanical properties comparable to most structural laminating epoxies and so can be used as a clear, UV stable laminating resin in conjunction with reinforcements like carbon fibre, glass fibre and natural reinforcements like flax and jute.
Its hard-wearing, fast curing properties make XCR ideal for a range of 'hot-coating' processes such as laminating EPS cores for surfboard manufacture. XCR is entirely solvent and styrene free and will not attack or affect EPS foam. Once fully cured, XCR's advanced mechanical properties offer excellent strength and damage tolerance.
The clarity and UV stability of the resin further enhance inlaid graphics or the natural appearance of the reinforcements used. When used in conjunction with appropriate grades of glass reinforcement, XCR can produce a laminate of excellent clarity.
Coating Wood
XCR has outstanding properties when used to preserve, protect, strengthen and enhance wooden surfaces. When applied to wood surfaces such as boat decking, traditional skis and boards or furniture, XCR can be used to create a hard-wearing protective layer which can be flatted and polished to a deep, glossy finish.
Exposure to Water
Do not allow the resin to be exposed to water until it has reached its initial cure (at least 24hrs at 20°C).
Where XCR is cured with an open face exposed to the air, the very top surface of the resin may remain reactive to water after curing. For applications where the cured resin may be exposed to water, this reaction can be avoided by polishing the surface of the cured resin using a cutting/polishing compound before exposure to water. If unpolished resin is exposed to water and becomes hazy/cloudy on the surface, this can easily be removed by polishing with a polishing/cutting compound, restoring full gloss and also preventing any future susceptibility to water