"Acrystal" has widespread applications in construction, architectural decoration, restoration, modelling, special effects and film and theatre sets. It is easy to work with, has a very low odour and, with added pigments and metallic aggregates, it can be used to produce a very wide range of finishes.
Acrystal was developed in France and has already established a successful track record there in construction, architectural decoration and stage sets. Its basic performance properties have made it a favourite with operators - good durability, stability, moisture resistance and fire resistance; requires less working time; increases the life of silicone moulds and it has a low exotherm. As an added benefit, tools can even be cleaned with water afterwards.
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Merlin Studios, perhaps better known under the name of Tussauds, have recently started using Acrystal for the manufacture of their world famous wax figures. David Malinkwski is their Production Development Manager. He said: "We have been trialling the resin for making case moulds for the hands of our figures. Traditionally, we use plaster which is quite bulky and has a tendency to chip and crumble over time. With Acrystal the moulds are lighter, less bulky and there is also less need to have extraction systems on in our workshops. It is speedy and efficient and much friendlier to work with. We are also testing it as a filler."
The resin can be cast into moulds using traditional techniques or it can be sprayed. It can also be applied in thick layers to a base material like polystyrene or polyurethane foam and then sculpted, cut, milled or drilled.
Richard Watson, from Bentley, said: "Acrystal has massive potential in a sector used to operating with materials that can be unpleasant to work with and environmentally challenging, this acrylic resin can transform the way many operators work and at the same time provide better performance properties than many traditional materials."
Bentley Creative Chemicals have been working with engineers, entrepreneurs, artists and fabricators since 1978, in the areas of moulding, reproduction, prosthetics, bonding, coating, sealing, protection, encapsulation, prototyping, assembly, lubrication, special effects and modelling.
Further information is available at: www.bentleychemicals.co.uk.
(KMcA/JM)
