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What
is AcuDOME... ?
AcuDOME
is a two part, room temperature curing Polyurethane
Resin system that can be applied to many different
products and substrates to produce a highly
effective 3D "DOME" coating.
How
do I apply AcuDOME... ?
AcuDOME
is supplied in both easy to use manually applied
cartridges and in bulk for use with multidome
equipment.
On
what substrates can AcuDOME resin be applied...
?
The
process of doming can be applied to many different
non-porous substrate materials, such as:
- Aluminum
-
Engraving Plastics
-
Vinyl
-
Brass
-
Magnets
-
Mylar
- Coated
Papers
The
most common type of material that AcuDOME is
usually applied to is Mylar (Metalized Polyester
Film), which has a pressure sensitive self-adhesive
coating on the reverse.
Why
doesn't it run over the edge...?
AcuDOME
has been developed to have a relatively high
surface tension, so that when it finds a sharp
edge it will cling to and hold itself in a DOME
until it has gone through its curing process
and is no longer fluid. Although AcuDOME has
the ability to do this, there is still a certain
maximum volume that can be applied to a shape
before the weight of the resin becomes too much
for the surface tension of the AcuDOME to hold.
The AcuDOME will then overspill, however in
most cases this is not a problem, as the part
can be saved by scooping up the excess AcuDOME,
and then by using a semi-sharp craft knife,
the retaining edge can be reformed. In production
it is recorded that a scrap rate of less than
0.2% is caused by overspilled parts.
To
emulate the characteristics of AcuDOME, apply
water to the surface of a coin. This will show
how the surface tension holds the AcuDOME in
place.
What
are AcuDOME's Environmental & Durability Properties...
?
The
AcuDOME resin has undergone many stringent testing
procedures by its users to determine its durability.
It has proved itself to have excellent long
term U.V. resistance to "Yellowing"
and resistance to outdoor weathering.
The
fact that the AcuDOME resin has been specified
for many years as the preferred resin for automotive
& marine decals speaks for itself.
One
of the most common uses of the AcuDOME resin
is for automotive wheel hub decals, which are
obviously subject to extremes of temperature,
salt spray, steam cleaning, and road grime.
What
shapes & sizes can I apply AcuDOME to... ?
The
AcuDOME resin can DOME virtually any profile
shape, however sharp corners are time consuming
for the application process.
Circles
and oval shapes are ideal for the doming process
due to the fact that once the correct volume
of AcuDOME resin required has been determined
for a particular size, it can be applied to
the decal in one shot and allowed to flow by
its self to the edge of the substrate. Usually
little effort is required by the operator.
Typically
most domed decals are between 1cm Sq. &
100cm Sq., however, doming has been performed
on area’s less than 1cm sq. (i.e. pen tops)
and in excess off 10,000cm Sq. (i.e. vehicle
graphics)
What
coverage can I expect from AcuDOME...?
A
50 ml AcuDOME cartridge will adequately dome
coat 55-65 25mm x 25mm decals. (1"Sq),
typical size for P.C. identification decals/logo’s.
How
high can the DOME be...?
The
height of the DOME is limited to the resin’s
surface tension characteristics. Typically the
height of the DOME on a 50mm (2") diameter
circle would be between 1.5mm – 2.3mm (.070"-.090").
Attempting to increase the height of the DOME
will cause the surface tension of the AcuDOME
resin to fail, causing it to overflow from the
substrate.
When
is it possible to send AcuDOMED products to my
customer... ?
Once
AcuDOME has been applied, it will go through
two stages. The first being the "GEL"
stage, this usually takes 6-10 minutes after
application. During this time the AcuDOME will
still be workable, air bubbles can be removed,
overspilled parts can be repaired, dust can
be removed and additional AcuDOME can be applied.
After the "GEL" stage, AcuDOME will
no longer be workable as it will have become
very thick and tacky. AcuDOME will then be into
its "CURE" stage which will last for
48 hrs, however it is possible to dispatch AcuDOMED
product after 12-18 hrs if care is taken with
packaging.
What
type of environment does the curing process require...?
AcuDOME
should always be applied and allowed to "Cure"
within an environment that is clean, warm (MIN
77F/25C) and where possible dehumidified. All
working and curing surfaces should be "level"
so as to prevent the AcuDOME from running more
to one side than the other. Working on toughened
glass sheets is good practice.
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