REPAIR DEFINITIONS (A-Z) FOR BATHTUB AND SPA RESTORATION
Accelerator (Resin):
A chemical that speeds up the curing process of thermosettingplastics, essential for timely project completion.
Acetone:
A powerful solvent used to clean FRP resins. Its flammability requires carefulhandling.
Acrylic (MMA/PMMA):
A versatile plastic used widely in bathtub and spa manufacturing, acclaimed for its UV resistance and clarity. Acrylic sheets, formed through processes like cell casting and extrusion, are the foundation of many bathware products.
Adhesive:
A substance that forms a strong bond between surfaces, pivotal in repair andassembly.
Adhesive Failure:
The detachment at the adhesive joint, indicating the need for a morerobust bonding solution.
Adhesion Promoter:
Enhances the bond between topcoat/basecoat and substrate, ensuring lasting repairs.
Air Dry (Gel Coat/Resin):
Curing at room temperature, a critical factor in the setting time of repairs.
Alligatoring:
Wrinkled gel coatfilm resembling alligator skin, usually due to impropercuring
Atmospheric Moisture:
Ambient water vapor that can affect sensitive materials, highlighting the importance of controlled storage conditions.
Atomize:
The process of breaking down paint into fine particles, a skill crucial forachieving a flawless finish.
Baking:
Applying heat to hasten the curing or drying of coatings, an important step inachieving a durable finish.
Barcol Hardness:
A hardness measurement reflecting the cure degree in gel coats orlaminates, guiding quality assessment.
Basecoat:
A pigmented layer that may require a clear topcoat for enhanced durability and gloss, key in aesthetic repairs.
Batch:
A production set with uniform characteristics throughout, central to quality control.
Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO):
A catalyst that, when used with aniline accelerators, enables precise control over the curing process.
Bi-Directional:
Fibers arranged perpendicularly, providing equal strength in two directions, fundamental in structural repairs.
Binder (FRP):
Resin that holds reinforcing fibers in place, dissolving during lamination to integrate into the final polymer network.
Bleeding (FRP):
The reflow of softened gel coat pigments, which requires careful monitoring during the repair process.
Blending:
Artfully merging finishes or colors to conceal differences, a technique essential for seamless repairs.
Blistering:
A milky appearance in topcoats due to humidity, a factor to consider in finishing applications.
Bond Strength:
The measure of force required to separate bonded materials, indicating the effectiveness of adhesive applications.
Brace:
A structural element designed to reinforce or stabilize a repair, ensuring longevity and durability.
Brittle:
Describes a coating that lacks flexibility, which may lead to cracking and necessitate a repair.
Bubbles:
Air or solvent trapped in a finish, often due to improper application techniques, affecting surface smoothness.
Buffing/Compounding:
The process of using a mild abrasive to refine a coating’s gloss or to smooth out texture, a finishing touch in repair work.
Burn Through:
Over-polishing that exposes underlying layers, a risk that requires careful buffing.
Carbon Fiber:
A reinforcing material known for its strength and lightweight properties, increasingly used in high-end spa repairs.
Cast Polymer:
A composite material without reinforcing fibers, tailored for specific applications in bathware.
Catalyst (Resin):
A substance that triggers the chemical reaction of curing, crucial for the hardening of repair materials.
Catalyst Injection:
A technique where catalyst is introduced at the spray gun, enhancing efficiency in resin application.
Catalyst (Peroxide):
An agent added to resins to initiate the curing process, a fundamental component in repair formulations.
Centipoise (CPS):
A unit of viscosity measurement, with water at room temperature as the benchmark (one cps).
Chalking:
The formation of a powdery surface on coatings due to environmental exposure, indicating the need for maintenance or repair.
Chopped Strand:
Short strands of fibers used to reinforce composites, integral to the strength of repair materials.
Chopped Strand Mat:
A fabric used to add thickness and strength to composites, commonly employed in structural repairs.
Closed Molding:
A fabrication technique that yields precision parts by enclosing resin within a mold, used in high-quality spa manufacturing.
Cobalt:
An element serving as an accelerator in polyester curing processes, ensuring consistent repair results.
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion:
The rate at which a material expands or contracts with temperature changes, a critical factor to consider in repair materials selection to ensure compatibility with existing bathware.
Cohesion:
The internal strength of a material that allows it to stick to itself, vital for the integrity of adhesives and coatings.
Cohesive Failure:
A type of bond failure within the adhesive or the material it is meant to bind, highlighting the importance of selecting the correct adhesive for the repair task.
Color Match:
The process of adjusting repair materials to ensure no visible difference from the original surface, a crucial aspect for aesthetically pleasing repairs.
Color Retention:
The ability of a repaired surface to maintain its color over time, despite exposure to various environmental factors.
Color Standard:
A benchmark color sample used to ensure consistency in repair materials, essential for achieving a uniform appearance in repairs.
Compressive Strength:
The ability of a material to resist deformation under load, an important consideration in structural repair materials.
Concentration (Coatings):
The ratio of pigment to solvent in a coating, which affects color depth and coverage quality in surface repairs.
Condensation Polymerization:
A chemical reaction that leads to the formation of polymers, often releasing by-products like water, and is foundational in creating many repair resins.
Contaminant:
Any foreign substance that can affect the properties of a repair material or the quality of a repair.
Copolymer:
A polymer made from two or more different monomers, which can enhance the properties of repair materials, such as flexibility or chemical resistance.
Core:
The central layer in a laminate or composite construction, used to provide thickness and insulation in spa constructions.
Cosmetic Stability:
The ability of a repaired surface to maintain its appearance overtime, including factors like smoothness, color, and gloss.
Coverage:
The capacity of a repair material, especially paints and coatings, to adequately cover a surface without showing the underlying material.
Crazing:
Fine cracks that may appear on the surface of a material due to stress or environmental factors, indicating the need for a repair or a reevaluation of the material used.
Cross-linking:
A chemical reaction in polymers that creates a three-dimensional network, increasing strength and resistance to chemicals, crucial for the longevity of repairs.
Cure:
The process where a resin changes from a liquid to a solid, forming a permanent bond or seal, fundamental in the setting of repair materials.
Cure Temperature:
The optimal temperature at which a material will cure properly critical for ensuring a successful repair process.
Cure Time:
The duration required for a repair material to fully set and achieve maximum strength, a key consideration in repair planning.
Curing Agent:
A component that, when added to a resin, causes it to harden. Also known as a hardener, it’s essential for the polymerization process in coatings and adhesives.
Cut-back:
A reduction or tapering of a layer of paint or coating to allow for the application of a new layer without creating a noticeable edge.
Delamination:
The separation of layers in laminated composite materials, often requiring repair to restore structural integrity.
Density:
A measure of a material’s mass per unit volume, important in calculating the weight of repair materials for large-scale projects.
Diethylaniline (DEA):
An accelerator used in combination with peroxide catalysts for polyester resins, aiding in control of the curing process.
Diluent:
A substance added to thin or reduce the viscosity of a material, often used in paint and coating applications.
Dimples:
Small depressions in a gel coat or surface finish, typically caused by air bubbles or foreign particles, requiring repair to restore a smooth surface.
Dispersion:
The even distribution of particles within a liquid, crucial for the consistency of repair materials like paints and coatings.
Distortion:
An imperfection in a surface that causes it to deviate from the intended shape, often addressed in the repair process.
Drain Out:
The unwanted flow or leaking of resin from a composite material, which can weaken the repair if not addressed.
Dry Spot:
An area in a laminate that lacks sufficient resin, leading to weak spots that may require repair
Durability:
The ability of a repair to withstand wear and environmental conditions overtime, a key quality of effective repair materials.
E-Glass:
A type of fiberglass commonly used in the industry for its strength and electrical insulating properties, often used in spa and bath repairs.
Elasticity:
The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed, important for repair materials that need to withstand movement.
Elastic Limit:
The maximum extent to which a material can be deformed without sustaining permanent change, a consideration when selecting materials for flexible repairs.
Elastomer:
A rubber-like material that can stretch and return to its original size, used in seals and flexible joints in bath and spa repairs.
Elongation:
The degree to which a material can be stretched or lengthened, a property that needs to be matched when repairing materials under tension.
Enamel:
A type of paint or coating that dries to a hard, glossy finish, often used for protective and aesthetic purposes in repairs.
Etch:
The process of using an abrasive or chemical to prepare a surface for the application of coatings, important for ensuring adhesion in repair work.
Exothermic Heat:
Heat produced internally by a chemical reaction, such as during the curing of resins, which must be managed to prevent damage during repairs.
Extenders:
Materials used to increase the volume of a resin or paint without significantly affecting its properties, often used to make repair materials more economical.
Fabric, Woven:
A material made by weaving fibers together, used for reinforcing repairs and providing strength to composite materials.
Fabrication:
The act of creating a structure or repair, involving various techniques and materials specific to the industry.
Fading:
The loss of color or brightness over time, often addressed during the repair of surfaces exposed to sunlight or harsh chemicals.
Fatigue:
The weakening of a material over time due to repeated stress, an important consideration in the lifespan of a repair.
Feathering:
A technique used in painting to smoothly transition between different colors or between repaired and existing areas.
Fiber Content:
The amount and type of reinforcing fibers in a composite material, critical for determining the strength and flexibility of a repair.
Fiber Orientation:
The direction in which the reinforcing fibers are laid, which affects the strength and stiffness of the repaired area.
Fiber Print:
A pattern that can appear on the surface of a repair, showing the underlying fiber structure, often minimized for aesthetic reasons.
Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP):
Composite materials made of a plastic matrix reinforced with fibers, commonly used in the construction of bathtubs and spas.
Fiberglass:
Glass fibers used for reinforcement in composite materials, essential for many types of bath and spa repairs.
Fillers (Resins):
Inert materials added to resins to change their properties, such as viscosity or density, tailored for specific repair applications.
Fillers (Surface Repair):
Materials used to fill voids or level surfaces, forming the substrate for further repair processes.
Fish Eyes:
Separations in a coating that appear as circular imperfections, often caused by contamination, requiring careful surface preparation to avoid.
Flash Point:
The lowest temperature at which a material can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture with air, a safety consideration when using solvents in repairs.
Flattening Agent:
A component added to coatings to reduce gloss, useful in creating matte finishes for repairs.
Flooding:
Applying a coating with a high delivery rate, a technique that requires skill to avoid runs or sags in the finish.
Fracture:
The breaking or cracking of a material under stress, which may necessitate repair to restore structural integrity.
Free Radicals:
Highly reactive atoms or molecules that can initiate polymerization in resins, important in the curing process of repair materials.
FRP:
Abbreviation for fiber reinforced polymer, a common term for composite materials used in the industry.
Fumed Silica (Cab-o-Sil):
A thickening agent for resins, providing improved handling properties for coatings and repair materials.
Gel:
A semi-solid state of resin that is partially cured, an intermediate stage in the setting process.
Gel Coat:
A type of coating used to provide a high-quality finish on the surface of composite materials, often used in the repair of bathtubs and spas to restore appearance.
Gel Time:
The period during which a resin remains workable after a catalyst has been added, a critical factor in timing repairs.
Gelation:
The transformation of a liquid resin into a soft solid state, the first step in the curing process.
Glaze:
A fine polishing material used to enhance the gloss and shine of a repaired surface, providing a finishing touch to the work.
Gloss:
The shine or luster of a coated surface, which can be measured and controlled to match the original finish in repairs.
Grinding:
The process of using abrasives to shape or smooth a surface, often used in the preparation or finishing of repairs.
Hand Layup:
A method of applying resin and reinforcements by hand, a traditional technique in the repair of composite materials.
Heat:
To raise the temperature of a material, a process used in various stages of repair to cure or shape materials.
Hardener:
A substance mixed with a resin to initiate the curing process, leading to hardening of the material.
Honeycomb:
A lightweight, structured material used as a core in composite constructions, providing strength without significant weight.
Hot Pot:
Mixing resin and catalyst in a container prior to application, used in certain repair techniques to ensure rapid curing.
Hybrid Resin:
A resin that combines two or more different chemical formulations, often used to create repair materials with specific properties.
Hydrophobic:
Describing materials that resist water, an important property for repairs in wet environments like baths and spas.
Hygroscopic:
Describing materials that absorb moisture, a factor that can affect the storage and use of certain repair compounds.
Impregnate:
To saturate a reinforcement material with resin, ensuring a strong bond incomposite repairs.
Inhibitor:
A substance used to slow down a chemical reaction, providing control over the curing process in repair materials.
Injection Molding:
A process of forming parts by injecting material into a mold under pressure, sometimes used in the production of repair components.
Interface:
The boundary between two materials, which can be a critical area for adhesion in repairs.
Isotropic:
Having uniform properties in all directions, a desired trait in some repair materials for consistent performance.
Laminate (verb):
To layer materials together, a fundamental process in creating strong, durable repairs in composite structures.
Lamination:
The act of applying layers of fiber and resin, a common method in the repair and construction of baths and spas.
Layup:
The arrangement of fibers and resin prior to curing, an important step in ensuring the strength and quality of a repair.
Mass:
The amount of matter in a material, a factor that affects the weight and handling of repair materials.
Master Mold:
A robust mold used to create multiple copies of a part, ensuring consistency in production and repairs.
Mat:
A fibrous material used to build up thickness and strength in composite repairs, providing a foundation for additional layers.
Matrix:
The resin or other material in which fibers are embedded, forming the bulk of composite repair materials.
MEK Peroxide:
A catalyst used to initiate the curing of polyester resins, a common component in repair kits.
MEK (Solvent):
Methyl ethyl ketone, a solvent used to clean surfaces and thin resins, with caution due to its flammability.
Micro Cracking:
Small cracks that can develop in composites due to thermal stresses, often addressed during repair to prevent further damage.
Mil:
A unit of measurement equal to one-thousandth of an inch, used to specify coatings thickness in repair work.
Milled Fibers:
Short fibers used to reinforce resins or fillers, providing additional strength to repair materials.
Mold:
To shape a composite material or repair compound into a desired form, often using heat and pressure.
Mold Coat:
A resin layer applied to a mold to ensure a smooth, high-quality finish on the molded part.
Mold (Open-Close Method):
A molding technique that allows for material injection or placement before closing the mold to complete the par
Mold Release:
A substance applied to a mold to prevent sticking and facilitate the removal of the finished part.
Molding:
The process of forming a shape from materials such as resin, used in both the creation of new bathware and in repairs.
Monomer:
A small molecule that can join with others to form a polymer, fundamental in the chemistry of repair resins.
Neat Resin Application:
Applying pure resin without any fillers or reinforcements, used in certain repair scenarios for its clarity and strength.
Orange Peel:
A textured finish on a coated surface that resembles the skin of an orange, often smoothed out during the finishing stages of a repair.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM):
Companies that manufacture products, often the source of repair specifications and materials.
Out-Gassing:
The release of gases from a material, which can create bubbles or imperfections in coatings and must be managed during repairs.
Peroxides:
A group of compounds used in the curing of resins, essential for the hardening of repair materials.
Pigment Separation:
Uneven distribution of color in a coating, which can lead to a mottled appearance if not properly mixed.
Pinholes:
A small molecule that can join with others to form a polymer, fundamental in the chemistry of repair resins.
Plastics:
Synthetic materials that can be molded or shaped, often used in the manufacturing of bathtubs and spas and therefore common in repair materials.
Plug:
A model or form used to create the initial shape for a mold, vital in the repair process for creating custom parts.
Polyester (Unsaturated):
A type of resin that can be hardened or cured, widely used in the repair of baths and spas for its durability and ease of use.
Polymer:
A large molecule composed of many repeated subunits, the building block of many repair resins and coatings.
Polymerization:
A synthetic polymer used as a release agent in molds, assisting in the clean removal of repaired parts.
Polyvinyl Alcohol:
A small molecule that can join with others to form a polymer, fundamental in the chemistry of repair resins.
Porosity:
Additional curing that occurs after the initial setting of a resin, often used to achieve maximum strength and durability in repairs.
Postcure:
Additional curing that occurs after the initial setting of a resin, often used to achieve maximum strength and durability in repairs.
Pot Life:
A small molecule that can join with others to form a polymer, fundamental in the chemistry of repair resins.
Prepreg:
Pre-impregnated fibers that are ready to lay into a mold, used for convenience and consistency in composite repairs.
Type here:
Uneven distribution of color in a coating, which can lead to a mottled appearance if not properly mixed.
Preheating:
The application of heat before the main repair process, used to improve the flow and adhesion of materials.
Premix:
A mixture of resin, pigment, and catalyst that is ready to use, providing speed and uniformity in the repair process.
Pre-release:
The premature detachment of a gel coat or laminate from a mold, a problem that can affect the quality of a repair.
Primary Laminate:
The main structural layer applied in a repair, providing the bulk of the material’s strength.
Print-through:
The appearance of underlying fibers through a topcoat, an aesthetic issue often addressed in the finishing of a repair.
Production Mold:
A mold designed for repeated use in manufacturing, ensuring consistency in the production of repair parts.
Promoter:
Another term for an accelerator, used to speed the curing process of resins.
Reinforcement:
Materials used to strengthen a composite structure, essential for the durability and integrity of repairs
Release Agent:
A substance applied to prevent adhesion, used to facilitate the removal of parts from a mold
Release Film:
A non-stick film used in molding to prevent the resin from bonding to the mold.
Resin:
The base material used in the creation of plastics and composites, a key component in repair materials for its adhesive and structural properties.
Resin Rich:
An area with an excess of resin, which can affect the balance and performance of a repair.
Resin Starved:
The opposite of resin-rich, indicating a lack of sufficient resin, which can lead to weak spots in a repair.
Sags/Runs:
Defects where a coating drips or flows excessively, often corrected during the finishing stages of a repair.
Sandwich Layup:
A composite structure with a lightweight core material between two reinforced layers, providing strength without much added weight.
Set:
The hardening or curing of a material, a crucial phase in the repair process.
Shear:
A force that causes layers of material to slide against each other, a stress that repair materials must be able to resist.
Shelf-life:
The duration a material can be stored before it becomes unusable, an important factor in the management of repair supplies.
Sizing:
A treatment applied to fibers to improve handling and bonding in composite repairs.
Skin Laminate:
A thin layer of reinforced material applied to a surface, often used in repairs to provide a smooth finish.
Sprayup:
A method of applying resin and fibers simultaneously, commonly used for large or complex repairs.
Stiffness:
The resistance of a material to bending or flexing, an important property for structural repairs.
Strain:
The deformation of a material under stress, a factor considered in the selection of flexible repair materials.
Stress Crack:
A crack caused by excessive tension, often a sign that a repair is needed
Substrate:
The base material to which coatings or repairs are applied.
Surface Profile:
The texture and contours of a repaired surface, which should match the original as closely as possible.
Surfacing Agent:
A material applied to the surface of a composite to improve the cure or finish.
Surfacing Veil:
A thin layer of material used to enhance the finish of a composite surface.
Tack:
The stickiness of a material, relevant in the adhesion stage of repairs.
Tensile Strength:
The maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched before breaking, a key quality in repair materials.
Thermal Conductivity:
The ability of a material to conduct heat, a consideration in repairs where temperature changes are frequent.
Thermal Shock:
The stress on a material caused by rapid temperature changes, which can lead to the need for repairs.
Thermal Stress:
Stress on a material caused by temperature-induced expansion or contraction, a factor in the durability of repairs.
Thermoplastics:
Plastics that can be melted and reshaped multiple times, used in some repair applications for their versatility.
Thixotropic:
The property of a material that makes it resistant to flow when at rest but allows it to become more fluid when agitated, beneficial in coatings and resins for repairs.
Tool:
A term for a mold used in the manufacturing or repair of composite materials.
Tooling Gel Coat Resin:
A specialized resin used to create high-quality molds, ensuring precision in the production of repair parts.
Toughness:
The ability of a material to absorb energy and withstand impacts without breaking, essential for repairs that endure heavy use.
Unidirectional:
Fibers aligned in a single direction, used in repairs where strength is needed in a particular orientation.
Vacuum Bag Molding:
A process that uses vacuum pressure to compact and cure laminates, often used in high-performance repairs.
Veil:
A lightweight layer of fibers that easily conforms to shapes, useful in creating smooth finishes on repaired surfaces.
Voids:
Empty spaces within a material that can weaken a repair, typically filled tore store integrity.
Viscosity:
The measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow, important in the application of liquid repair materials.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):
Chemicals that easily vaporize and can be hazardous, regulated to limit environmental and health impacts in repair settings.
Wax:
A substance used as a release agent in molds or to add a protective layer to finished repairs.
Weave Print:
A pattern on a surface that reveals the weave of the underlying fabric, typically minimized for a smooth finish.
Wet Layup:
The application of resin to fibers in a mold, a common technique in hand-crafted repairs.
Wetout:
The complete saturation of fibers with resin, ensuring that no dry spots remain in a repair.
Woven Roving Fabric:
A heavy fabric made from interwoven fibers, providing substantial strength and thickness to repairs.