How to Address Wrinkling in Hand-Laid Gel Coats?

While spray application is ideal for gel coats due to uniformity and efficiency, hand-laid or roller application remains necessary for certain composite components due to structural complexities and specific positioning requirements.

Clients have raised concerns about wrinkling in hand-laid gel coats. The primary issue often stems from uneven coat thickness. Areas with insufficient curing or inconsistent application can lead to resin accumulation, causing the gel coat to swell and wrinkle. However, wrinkling in hand-laid gel coats can result from various factors, such as uneven application thickness, temperature variations, incorrect curing agent ratios, high humidity, premature reinforcement layer application, or mold surface contamination.

To effectively resolve wrinkling in hand-laid gel coats, a thorough assessment and systematic troubleshooting across multiple factors are essential.