Gel Timers

A Qualitest gel timer instrument is essential for accurately determining the workable time window or pot life of thermosetting materials. It is the definitive tool for quality control on resinous plastics, adhesives, two component elastomers, and coatings where precise curing characteristics are critical to final product performance. This gel time tester uses a low torque, synchronous motor to rotate a specially shaped stirrer within the catalyzed material. As chemical cross linking occurs and the material begins to gel, the increasing viscous drag exceeds the motor's torque, which automatically stalls the motor and provides a clear, repeatable endpoint for the measurement.

This mechanical detection of the gelation point makes the gel time tester an indispensable asset for both production environments and materials research. By providing precise, quantitative data on gelation, it allows engineers and technicians to validate batch consistency, optimize catalyst ratios, and ensure that processing cycles are aligned with material behavior.This level of process control is fundamental in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries for preventing defects, minimizing material waste, and ensuring the final cured component meets all performance specifications.