Hybrid fiberglass body kit?
06-22-2006, 01:22 PM
#28
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I don't intend this to be a polymer chemistry lesson as I am sure there are other on this forum who can do a better job of that but Polyurethane polymers are thermosets just as the polymer used in FPR \ Fiberglass is. Two liquid components are combined while being injected under pressure into a mold and a new polymer is formed taking on the shape of the mold. Heating the polymer up after this reaction will not regenerate the original materials... It may soften the polymer and with enough heat degrade the polymer but never regenerate the original chemicals. There are also thermoplastic polymers used in fascia other parts which are used in pellet forms heated, injected into a mold and cooled thus takin on the shape of the mold. Within reason, you can reheat the plastic and reshape it again. Then there are versions in between.
The Pontiac Fiero and the GM minivans of the late 80's all used Polyurethane\Polyurea polymers in their body panels.
This is an excerpt from a discussion many many months ago... The point is, a good urethane polymer used for fascia must be a polyurea \ polyurethane polymer to be any good... Lastly, the use of glass fiber reinforcement is optional but does improve certain properties (like heat sag) while reducing others (like elongation). Everything is a tradeoff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jays8
I know the OEM Mazdaspeed kit would be the best but I thought this was such a good deal and if I have a good paint and install guy this would save some bucks. I just wanted to know if anybody had bought from these guys before.....they seem pretty good. Anyone????
Hey guys, what is the OEM Mazdaspeed kit made from? I suspect it is made from Polyurea/urethane polymer.
Not all 'Urethane' polymers are equal. If you are concerned about one kit over another, you really need to ask for the performance measures of each polymer the manufacturer uses (There are ASTM tests that should be used). Been 15 years since I was in that industry but they use things like coefficient of thermal expansion, % Elongation and Heat Sag - which is a measure of how much the polymer may sag on vertical surfaces under heat. Anyone remember cars with fascia (bumpers) that looked wavy as hell after a few years, like say late 80's early 90's Corvettes front fascia which were 'urethane' not fiberglass? That was heat sag at work - Poor polymer + heat + gravity equal SAG.
One of the ways the Polyurethane polymer suppliers improved Heat Sag was to modify the chemistry in such a way as to make really a Polyurea polymer which has much higher heat resistance. Polyurea/urethane polymers are more expensive and require slightly more expensive processing equipment.
So, before I bought any 'urethane' kit I would dig into what exactly they are using and want to know their 'specs' compare to the OEM parts.
The Pontiac Fiero and the GM minivans of the late 80's all used Polyurethane\Polyurea polymers in their body panels.
This is an excerpt from a discussion many many months ago... The point is, a good urethane polymer used for fascia must be a polyurea \ polyurethane polymer to be any good... Lastly, the use of glass fiber reinforcement is optional but does improve certain properties (like heat sag) while reducing others (like elongation). Everything is a tradeoff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jays8
I know the OEM Mazdaspeed kit would be the best but I thought this was such a good deal and if I have a good paint and install guy this would save some bucks. I just wanted to know if anybody had bought from these guys before.....they seem pretty good. Anyone????
Hey guys, what is the OEM Mazdaspeed kit made from? I suspect it is made from Polyurea/urethane polymer.
Not all 'Urethane' polymers are equal. If you are concerned about one kit over another, you really need to ask for the performance measures of each polymer the manufacturer uses (There are ASTM tests that should be used). Been 15 years since I was in that industry but they use things like coefficient of thermal expansion, % Elongation and Heat Sag - which is a measure of how much the polymer may sag on vertical surfaces under heat. Anyone remember cars with fascia (bumpers) that looked wavy as hell after a few years, like say late 80's early 90's Corvettes front fascia which were 'urethane' not fiberglass? That was heat sag at work - Poor polymer + heat + gravity equal SAG.
One of the ways the Polyurethane polymer suppliers improved Heat Sag was to modify the chemistry in such a way as to make really a Polyurea polymer which has much higher heat resistance. Polyurea/urethane polymers are more expensive and require slightly more expensive processing equipment.
So, before I bought any 'urethane' kit I would dig into what exactly they are using and want to know their 'specs' compare to the OEM parts.
06-22-2006, 03:44 PM
#29
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We always tell our customers that the "polyurethane" after-market parts you see are not the same as the ones from OEM manufacturers. The tooling ome manufacturers use is much more advanced 
.
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06-23-2006, 10:55 AM
#36
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Originally Posted by willhave8
Hey guys, what is the OEM Mazdaspeed kit made from? I suspect it is made from Polyurea/urethane polymer.
06-23-2006, 02:52 PM
#39
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What?! That's one of the best parts of the kit. I suppose one could just get the original ones from somewhere else though...
Feed sides?! Wouldn't INGS+1 sides be a better match?
Feed sides?! Wouldn't INGS+1 sides be a better match?
06-27-2006, 08:14 PM
#47
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Originally Posted by ShineAutoProject
From what we've read so far..........there seems to be most interest in
1. Knights Sports
2. R-magic lip kit
3. FEED
4. Mazdaspeed V2 ?
5. Burnout ?
Anything else?
1. Knights Sports
2. R-magic lip kit
3. FEED
4. Mazdaspeed V2 ?
5. Burnout ?
Anything else?
