METHOD FOR APPLYING AND MOULDING A MOULDABLE COATING COMPOUND

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for applying and molding a moldable coating compound (4), which is viscous during a predetermined application period and is cured once the application period has elapsed, onto a subsurface (2), in particular the outer skin of a watercraft, having the following steps: During the application period, the coating compound (4) is applied onto the subsurface (2); during the application period, a flexible planar substrate (6) is placed onto the applied coating compound (4); and, during the application period, a molding tool (8) is brought temporarily to bear on the substrate (6) to bring the surface (4a) of the coating compound (4) into a required shape.

Claims

1. A method for applying and molding a moldable coating compound, which is viscous during a predetermined application period and is cured once the application period has elapsed, onto a subsurface, in particular the outer skin of a watercraft, with the steps: I) applying the coating compound to the subsurface during the application period, II) placing a flexible, planar substrate onto the applied coating compound during the application period, and III) bringing a molding tool temporarily to bear on the substrate in order to bring the surface of the coating compound into a required shape during the application period, wherein a coating compound which can be cured under the effect of heat is used as the moldable coating compound, and a substrate having a heating medium is used as the flexible, planar substrate.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein filling compound or filler is used as the coating compound.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a material having an epoxy resin is used as the coating compound.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in Step I, the coating compound is applied to the subsurface substantially without air pockets.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, in Step I, the coating compound is sprayed or discharged onto the subsurface.

6. The method for applying and smoothing a moldable coating compound according to claim 1, wherein a smoothing tool is used as the molding tool in order to smooth the surface of the coating compound.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in Step III, the molding tool is moved along the substrate.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the molding tool is moved back-and-forth.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the molding tool is moved in a first direction and in a second direction oriented transversely, substantially at a right angle, as relates to the first direction.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein an elongated body, which is moved in a direction (A) transversely, preferably substantially at a right angle, as relates to its longitudinal extension, is used as the molding tool

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, in Step III, a filler blade, a scraper, a trowel, or a roller is used as the molding tool.

12. (canceled)

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heating media are activated during the application period in Step II and/or between Step II and Step III and/or in Step III and/or following Step III.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the heating media have electrical heating wires which are connected to a voltage source outside of the substrate.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein a substrate permeable to air is used as the flexible, planar substrate.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein a perforated substrate is used as the flexible, planar substrate.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein a substrate which absorbs liquids is used as the flexible, planar substrate.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein a fabric, particularly a textile fabric or a fiberglass fabric, is used as the flexible, planar substrate.

19. The method according to claim 1, having an additional step following Step III, which is Step IV) removing the flexible, planar substrate from the then-cured coating compound after the application period has expired.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein a peel ply or removal fabric is used as the flexible, planar substrate.

21. The method according to claim 1, having an additional step following step III, which is Step IV) applying a further coating to the substrate.

Description

[0022] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention is explained in greater detail in the following by means of the accompanying figures. The following is shown:

[0023] FIG. 1 a structure comprising a subsurface and a coating compound applied flatly thereupon, in a schematic sectional view;

[0024] FIG. 2 the structure from FIG. 1 with a flexible, planar substrate applied to the surface of the coating compound, in the same schematic sectional view as in FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 3 the structure from FIG. 2 with a molding tool having contact with the substrate for shape-providing finishing of the still-viscous coating compound, in the same schematic sectional view as in FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4 the structure from FIG. 3 with the substrate only partially separated from the coating compound which has been finished and has cured in the meantime, in the same schematic sectional view as in FIG. 3; and

[0027] FIG. 5 a schematic top view of a section of the substrate according to a preferred embodiment.

[0028] A method is described in the following for applying and molding, particularly smoothing, a moldable coating compound, which is viscous during a predetermined application period and is cured once the application period has elapsed, onto a subsurface. The coating compound is particularly used to compensate for unevenness in the subsurface in order to achieve a smooth finish. A filling compound or filler which particularly has epoxy resin, which is preferably used in yacht construction, can preferably be used as the coating compound. Thus, the method described in the following is particularly suitable for smoothing the outer skin of yachts.

[0029] FIG. 1 schematically shows the subsurface 2, onto the surface 2a of which the coating compound 4 has already been applied, in a sectional view. The application of the coating compound 4 to the subsurface 2 according to a first work step of the described method should take place without air pockets, to which end the coating compound 4 is sprayed or discharged onto the subsurface 2.

[0030] Subsequently, a flexible, planar substrate 6 is applied to the surface 4a of the coating compound in a second work step, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0031] Finishing of the structure shown in FIG. 2 takes place in a next work step with the aid of a molding tool 8, as is schematically shown in FIG. 3. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the molding tool 8 is a smoothing tool, which has an elongated body and thus is formed as a filler blade, a scraper, or a trowel and is moved in a direction transversely, preferably substantially at a right angle, as relates to its longitudinal extension, along the surface 6a of the flexible, planar substrate, as is indicated by arrow A in FIG. 3.

[0032] To this end, the lower edge 8a of the molding tool 8 is brought to bear against the surface 6a of the flexible, planar substrate 6, and pressure is exerted, by the flexible, planar substrate 6, onto the coating compound 4 underneath during the movement from the molding tool 8, in order to bring the coating compound into a required shape. Up to this point in time, the coating compound 4 is still in the viscous state such that the finishing with the molding tool 8 occurs during the application period. Preferably, the molding tool 8 is not only moved back-and-forth in a first direction according to arrow A, but also additionally in a second direction which is oriented transversely, substantially at a right angle, as relates to the first direction, whereby the coating compound 4 is pushed back-and-forth as desired and thus is kneaded until it has obtained the required shape over its entire surface 4a.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the molding tool 8 is particularly used for smoothing the surface 4a of the coating compound 4. As can further be seen in FIG. 3, the molding tool 8 leaves behind a smoothed region 4b of the coating compound 4 in that, in this region 4b of the coating compound 4, the overlying section 6b of the flexible, planar substrate 6 was impacted with the corresponding pressure from the molding tool 8 during its movement along the surface 6a of the flexible, planar substrate 6. As can further be seen in FIG. 3, the region 4c of the coating compound 4, as viewed in the direction of movement of the molding tool 8 according to arrow A, is still untreated or non-smoothed before or upstream of the momentary position of the molding tool 8 such that the overlying section 6c of the flexible, planar substrate 6 is still following the original progression of the surface 4a of the coating compound 4. Finally, FIG. 3 schematically shows that, in the momentary state shown therein, the coating compound 4 accumulates directly before the lower edge 8a of the molding tool 8 at the point indicated by reference numeral 4d, and the flexible, planar substrate 6 obtains a correspondingly step-like or wave-shaped progression in the region indicated by reference numeral 6d. Thus, a step or wave, formed from section 4d of the coating compound 4 and the overlying section 6d of the flexible, planar substrate 6, is formed before the lower edge 8a of the molding tool 8, which step or wave is accordingly displaced as the molding tool 8 continues to move in the direction of arrow A. In this case, the flexible, planar substrate 6 prevents parts of the coating compound 4 from adhering to the lower edge 8a of the molding tool 8 and then coming back out of the surface 4a again specifically due to this adhesion.

[0034] Preferably, the flexible, planar substrate 6 should be permeable to air so that any air enclosed between the surface 4a of the coating compound 4 and the bottom of the flexible, planar substrate 6 can escape through the substrate 6, while the molding tool 8 is moved along the surface 6a of the flexible, planar substrate 6 and, in doing so, pressure is exerted onto the substrate 6 in order to shape the underlying coating compound 4, whereby any enclosed air is simultaneously pressed outward through the substrate.

[0035] The flexible, planar substrate 6 may preferably be perforated in order to achieve air permeability. Furthermore, when a material having an epoxy resin is used as the coating compound 4, the flexible, planar substrate 6 absorbs the liquid resin such that resin residue does not remain in the coating compound 4. In order to achieve the previously described properties, preferably a fabric, particularly a textile fabric or a fiberglass fabric, is used as the flexible, planar substrate 6. The reason for this is that a fabric is not only permeable to air but also can absorb liquids such that these two properties are combined in one fabric.

[0036] The work steps previously described in FIGS. 1 to 3 take place during the application period in which the coating compound 4 is in the viscous state. The coating compound 4 placed or smoothed into shape is then cured.

[0037] If the coating compound 4 is cured after the application period has expired, the flexible, planar substrate 6 is removed from the surface 4a of the coating compound 4 in a subsequent work step in the exemplary embodiment shown, as shown in FIG. 4, with the removal process taking place in the direction of arrow B in this representation. Thus, the surface 4a of the then-cured coating compound 4 is made available for subsequent finishing, which may comprise, for example, the application of a further coating such as, for example, laminate or gel coat or a coating of varnish. Particularly when the flexible, planar substrate 6 is perforated or has a fabric, the substrate 6 leaves behind a corresponding structure on the surface 4a of the cured coating compound 4, once it has been removed from the cured coating compound 4, which structure ensures especially good adhesion of a coating still to be applied. To this end, the flexible, planar substrate 6 is preferably formed as a peel ply or removal fabric.

[0038] Alternatively, it is also basically conceivable, however, that the flexible, planar substrate 6 is left on the surface 4a of the cured coating compound 4 such that it not only provides reinforcement but also good adhesion of a further coating to then be applied, particularly when the surface of the substrate 6 has a structure based on a perforation or the use of fabric.

[0039] If a coating compound which can be cured under the influence of heat is used as the coating compound 4, it is advantageous to provide the flexible, planar substrate 6 with heating media. Preferably, the heating media have electrical heating wires 10, which are inserted or incorporated into the substrate 6, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, and connected to a voltage source, which is not shown, outside of the substrate 6. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the flexible, planar substrate 6 thus not only takes on the function of a protective or separating layer covering the surface 4a of the coating compound 4 for easy finishing as relates to the molding tool 8, but also simultaneously the function of providing the heat required for effective curing of the coating compound 4, and that is in the state shown in FIG. 2 and/or in the state shown in FIG. 3.