Shelf life of unopened Styrene?

[tank1949]

I live in Florida and it gets hot. April typically ends in 85 degree days and climbing. In my opinion, you can thin polyester resin with acetone but it is not as effective as styrene. Soaking bare plywood with thinned polyester allows the solution to soak into the vineers before applying the first bonding coat. Using acetone to thin Gelcoat ends up in soft Gelcoat, regardless of Mod c usage. Does anyone know the shelf life of styrene before it starts solidifying, lets say in 90 degree ambient temperatures?

 

[AShipShow]

I'm no chemist, but I believe styrene is just a solvent and won't solidy (or polymerize) unless other materials are added to it... I believe it won't ever solidify in a can, it may just eventually evaporate if not sealed up tightly.

 

[kcassells]

Its so researchable. Can ya lend me a dollar?

 

[harringtondav]

..I had to purchase a gallon of Spectrum gelcoat for 1/2 qt worth of patching. Their guy said the remainder in a refrigerator would extend it's life. Great plan until that old beer fridge died. The meat in the freezer didn't fare very well. The gelcoat is going to a haz materials drop off.

Point is keeping this and a lot of other stuff cool will increase it's life. Keep the container's lid/cap tight and store it upside down to limit air/oxygen entry.

 

[tank1949]

I bought a gallon and stored in my garage but I had to wait a year before I could start on project. The crap had turned to the viscosity of resin. It had neve been opened. THX

 

[kcassells]

What's styrene?

 

[tank1949]

What's styrene?

A solvent or thinner used to thin polyester resins including gelcoats. Thinning gelcoat with acetone will weaken it and in most cases make it very soft. However, I have experienced success in thinning polyester RESINS to soak wood prior to applying bonding or laminating polyester resins. It penetrates very well. However, styrene bonds with polyester for greater strength and thins just as good as acetone. But, unlike acetone, styrene will harden inside its container. At least that has been my experience; so, I trying to get an idea on its shelf life and planning my next glassing project. West Marine sells it for 20 bucks a quart. Another local shop sells gallons at 35 bucks each. THX

 

[jbcurt00]

Styrene is in polyester resin and is what reacts w the binders in CSM. Which is why its often mentioned that CSM isnt necessary when using epoxy.

Epoxy doesnt have have the styrene in it. Can CSM be used w epoxy?

Yep, but tends to add more bulk then additonal strength, when used w cloth and epoxy.....

 

[kcassells]

tank1949 and jbcurt00
Thanks guys. Did some reading on it.
Tank are you able to use it?
I'm in the eeeppoxxxy world so really don't have much knowledge of it.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[tank1949]

tank1949 and jbcurt00
Thanks guys. Did some reading on it.
Tank are you able to use it?
I'm in the eeeppoxxxy world so really don't have much knowledge of it.
Thanks for the replies.

I can buy it any time, but I will have to wait until I am close to beginning project because it will get hard in can and then become totally useless.

 

[AShipShow]

Yea, I was dead wrong... I did some reading on it out of curiosity.. I guess the clear stuff in a can that you can use to thin resin/gelcoat is called styrene monomer, and it actually is very sensitive to temperature and it will start to polymerize at just a little above room temperature and once it starts, the reaction happens very quickly...

I guess storage of the stuff on a large scale is quite the task... They have refrigeration systems to keep the liquid at a low enough temperature or else the whole batch will go off...

My guess is, if your stuff got to 90°, its gonna be a solid chunk 'o' plastic

 

[tank1949]

Yea, I was dead wrong... I did some reading on it out of curiosity.. I guess the clear stuff in a can that you can use to thin resin/gelcoat is called styrene monomer, and it actually is very sensitive to temperature and it will start to polymerize at just a little above room temperature and once it starts, the reaction happens very quickly...

I guess storage of the stuff on a large scale is quite the task... They have refrigeration systems to keep the liquid at a low enough temperature or else the whole batch will go off...

My guess is, if your stuff got to 90°, its gonna be a solid chunk 'o' plastic

I too keep my paint hardeners in my wife's fridg, which she AINT too pleased about. But, a gallon of styrene is just too large. Florida is always damn near 90 degrees or MORE in my garage. THX!

 

[kcassells]

Get a man cave fridge for that. And add whatever else you may like

 

[tank1949]

Get a man cave fridge for that. And add whatever else you may like

I wished that too, but I have too many toys and boat parts stored there> NO FNNNNN ROOM! But, wife keeps house around 70 degrees so she might have to make a compromise and allow me to store it inside house. I just have to figure out where to hide it from her seeing it. Thx.

 

[Panoguy]

I live in a cooler area (near Canada), and lost a can of styrene after 2 years... it turned to very-stiff Jell-o. The can was left outside, so was frozen during the winter months, I'd assume warmer climes would make it solidify quicker.