What is Polyfiber and how to use it as a thickener for resins

Do you need a thickener for your resin and silicone creations?

Do you want to create lighter yet more resistant pieces?

Then you need to know about the Feroca product Polyfiber, the All Purpose Thickener. It's everything you're looking for!

Read the following article and discover all the benefits of this thickener.

What are all purpose thickeners?

We've already mentioned that Polyfiber is an All Purpose Thickener, but it is not only used in the moulding and modelling industry — it has other uses too.

First of all, what is a thickener? Thickening agents are substances that, when added to a mixture, increase its viscosity and improve its texture, without substantially modifying its other properties. They provide body, increase stability, and make it easier to form suspensions.

Thanks to all of this, they are used for various solutions across different sectors.

What is Polyfiber?

• Polyfiber is a product perfect for moulding, casting, and coating applications.
• This material is an All Purpose Thickener that achieves thixotropy (increases density) in different types of resins and silicones.
• Once added to the product you want to work with, it can be used on vertical surfaces. It is also used as a lightener to produce lighter and more resistant pieces.

What are the characteristics of Polyfiber?

Polyfiber is a very versatile material with numerous benefits thanks to its characteristics, including:

• It can be used together with polyester, polyurethane, epoxy, and silicone resins.
• Insoluble in water
• Odourless
• Easy to handle
• Non-reactive
• Less volatile than silica gel
• Non-toxic
• Sustainable
• Turns a mould silicone into a thick system
• Turns resin into a very versatile consistency that can be applied to make moulds or lightweight mould shells
• Can create thin and lightweight pieces.

Differences between Polyfiber and silica gel

What is silica gel?

Before explaining the differences between these two materials, it is worth noting that silica gel is a thixotropic agent that acts on viscosity. It comes in the form of a highly volatile powder and is incorporated directly into resin, gels, or paints. It must be added directly to the resin with care — it is an extremely volatile product, and it is recommended to mix it very slowly until the product is homogeneous.

Due to its absorption capacity, it is commonly used as a matting agent in some applications, such as painting with silicones to achieve hyperrealistic effects.

Differences between the two materials

The difference between silica gel and Polyfiber is that the latter is a great alternative for thickening polyurethane rubbers and plastics, and this additive is less toxic and does not tend to spread through the air the way silica gel does.

How to use Polyfiber step by step?

Now that you've seen its characteristics, it's time to prepare all the materials and follow the step-by-step process to thicken both your silicones and resins that you'll use for your creations.

It is important to bear in mind that, as it is a white filler, it is not recommended for use with transparent resins, as it would make them cloudy. And if you add too much to the mixture, it will turn it opaque.

Before starting, you need to gather all the products you'll be working with:

Materials

• Polyfiber. To give that viscous appearance to your piece.
• The Feroca resin or silicone you'll be working with and want to give a new appearance to.
• Two plastic cups to make your mixture.
• A wooden stick or spatula to mix both the resin or silicone on one hand, and to incorporate the Polyfiber powder into the mixture of one of these two products.
• The mould into which you'll pour your mixture and create a new one.

Polyfiber application example

In this case, we are going to create thixotropic polyurethane resin

1. To do this, you need to incorporate and mix the Polyfiber with part A and part B of the resin.
2. Since this material does not have an exact percentage, you need to add it to taste, as you won't always want to thicken it to the same degree.
3. Once it is mixed into both components, combine them together and mix again.
4. And you'll have your thixotropic polyurethane resin ready to apply over moulds.
5. As you'll see, it will be very easy to use and apply onto the mould with the help of a wooden stick or spatula.
6. Wait for the curing time to finish and your piece will be ready.

Polyfiber from Feroca, the best All Purpose Thickener

If you need to buy an All Purpose Thickener, we offer you the best product on the market: Polyfiber, which is suited to all types of projects and repairs.

In our stores, both physical and on our website, you'll find this incredibly practical product. Ideal for thickening your resins and silicones and giving them a new look.

If you have any questions, you can get in touch with our team of experts for further information and advice. We'd be delighted to help you!

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