EMP160 High Temp Epoxy Moulding Paste

EMP160 is an advanced moulding paste (also known as laminating paste) for use in the production of high temperature moulds/tools for prepreg and resin infusion. EMP160 uses a special high-Tg epoxy resin combined with aluminium filler and short-strand glass reinforcement to produce a reliable and easy-to-apply structural reinforcement for high temperature moulds.

Patterns should first be gelcoated with EG160 High Temp Epoxy Tooling Gelcoat. For small to medium sized moulds, the high temperature laminating paste can then be used on its own with no further reinforcement necessary. For larger moulds, the paste can be used in conjunction with EL160 High Temp Epoxy Laminating Resin and additional reinforcement (such as woven glass or carbon). In which case the paste can be used to fillet tight corners or smooth over complex details on the mould, making it easier to produce a void-free mould using woven reinforcement.

In all cases, a ramped temperature post-cure is required before the component or mould can be used at elevated temperature. See EMP160 Technical Datasheet for post-cure details.

Typical Uses

• Reinforcement (backing) on moulds for prepreg manufacture (see service temperature notes below)
• Reinforcement (backing) on moulds for high temperature epoxy infusion.
• Filling or filleting tight corners or complex details on moulds before laminating with compatible epoxy resin and reinforcement.

How to Buy

Available in either a 5kg or 20kg pack, please choose the pack size you require from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Further Information

Initial Cure

EMP160 can be cured to a demouldable state in 24hrs at 25C but at this stage can be brittle and prone to cracking during demoulding of more complex mould shapes. Therefore, in most cases, it is recommended to conduct the initial cure at 40C (whereby the cure time can be reduced to 12hrs). Conducting the initial cure at 40C is low enough to avoid distortion of the pattern whilst still curing the resin to an adequately non-brittle state to demould without risk of damage.

Recommended: 12hrs @ 40C

Alternative: 24hrs (min) @ 25C - Warning: Resin will be very brittle before post-cure

Video Tutorial and Demonstration

In this video we demonstrate how to hand laminate a mould using our EG160 High Temperature Epoxy Tooling Gelcoat and our EMP160 High Temperature Epoxy Mould Making Paste.

Hand Laminating a High Temperature Mould

Tooling/Moulds for XPREG® prepregs

EMP160 is ideally suited as the main reinforcement on composite moulds intended for use with the XPREG® range of prepregs. When using EMP160 paste, moulds are usually made by hand-layup using one or two layers of EG160 gelcoat reinforced using EMP160 paste. The resulting high temperature epoxy mould will be dimensionally stable and reliable at the optimum cure temperature of 120°C, recommended for most XPREG® prepregs.

A compatible high temperature release agent, such as Easy-Lease, should always be used prevent breakdown under temperature. Always follow the correct post-cure procedure before using the mould at elevated temperature.

Maximum Service Temperature

Although EMP160 has an HDT (Heat Distortion Temperature) of 160°C, any air voids present within the laminate can cause blisters or imperfections on the surface of a mould or component once it is post-cured at elevated temperature. For this reason, it is suggested to limit the maximum service temperature of moulds reinforced using EMP160 to 120°C unless special measures have been taken remove the possibility of air voids. Consult technical datasheet for further details.

Suitable gelcoats for EMP160

EMP160 is designed for use with EG160 High Temp Epoxy Tooling Gelcoat. When applying the paste onto the gelcoat, a fresh 'wet' application of EG160 gelcoat should be used to 'couple' the paste to the gelcoat. See technical datasheet for full details.

If using EMP160 for filleting and filling corners and details on a mould prior to using a traditional fabric reinforcement, the fabric reinforcement should be laminated using EL160 Epoxy Laminating Resin.

Compatibility with other high temperature gelcoats and resins is possible but not guaranteed.

In all cases, resins or pastes used to back-up EG160 gelcoat must have similar high temperature properties in order to result in a completed mould or component which maintains the high temperature stability of EG160.

Using cured EG160 moulds

Moulds/tools reinforced with EMP160 paste can be used to produce parts using epoxy, polyester and vinylester resin systems, including prepregs (subject to maximum service temperature). A suitable release agent is required.