Bahnhofstrasse 28 www.gelinstrumente.com Tel.

+41 71 950 28 82
CH-9242 Oberuzwil info@gelinstrumente.com Fax +41 71 950 28 84

GELNORM® – Geltimer
®
GELNORM - Geltimer is an instrument for the
automatic determination of the gel time of reac-
tion resins. The design is based on DIN 16 945,
DIN 16 916 and EN 14022.
®
The test with GELNORM - Geltimer is very easy
to perform and gives exceptionally good repro-
ducibility.
The automatically measurement can be per-
formed for any reaction resin, for example:

 Unsaturated polyester resins

 Epoxy resins
 Polyurethane resins
 Acrylic resins
 Silicone resins
®
With GELNORM – Geltimer it is possible to evaluate all factors which influence the gel time of reac-
tion resins such as type and quantity of hardener, accelerator, inhibitor, filler, pigments, as well as
temperature and moisture. The instrument is extremely easy to operate and normally needs no
maintenance.
®
The principle of measurement of GELNORM – Geltimer is simple: A stamper made from aluminium or
glass performs an up-down cycle in a thermostatized test tube filled with resin. When the point of gela-
tion is reached, the test tube is pulled up by the stamper. This stops the clock which was started at the
beginning of the experiment and the gel time can be read of.

DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENT
®
GELNORM - Geltimer consists of a control unit and individual test units. The following types are
available:
Gel - Timer with one test unit (Ref. 20.11)
Gel - Timer with up to three test units (Ref. 20.10)

1 Friction clamp
2 Machine screw 2
3 Measurement stamper 1

4 Micro switch 3

5 Cover plate 4
5
6 Test tube (Ref. 20.55)
7 Test tube holder 7
8 Sampler mixture 6
8

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According to DIN 16 916, stampers (Ref. 20.30) made of aluminium wire with a coiled head are used.
This design provides the same gel time measurement as the glass stamper specified in the specifica-
tion of DIN 16 945 but is more economical. The design of the aluminium stamper moreover provides a
minimum of surface area, which leads to minimized air inhibition which is especially important for un-
saturated polyesters.
It is also possible to use a glass stamper (Ø 3 mm, length 230 mm with fused base) according to DIN
16 945. (Please notice that another stamper attachment clamp (Ref. 20.48) is used in this case.) Test
tubes are of 160 x Ø 16 mm with lip (Ref. 20.55).

Time Measurement and Measuring Cycles

The control units are provided with digital LCD clock-modules.
The automatic digital time measurement gives a reading of 1
second for test durations up to 24 hours. By starting a new
measurement the clock is automatically reset to zero.
The continuous up-down motion cycle of the stamper is set to
10 seconds as our standard. For individual needs, test units
with other motion cycles are available upon request

Temperature Measurement
A GELNORM® – Thermbox l – lll can be connected to the control unit. The gel time as well as
the change of temperature inside the probe can be recorded with the software.
The Thermbox l is for 1 Test unit, the Thermbox lll is for 3 Test units. The communication is
over USB.
 Geltime time to reach the gel point after DIN 16 945
 Tmax maximal temperature
 t(Tmax) time from start to the maximal temperature point

Thermbox l Thermbox lll

®
Print Screens from the Software of GELNORM Thermbox

The stored data’s can be used with excel

January 2012 / Geltimer_db_e page 2 / 6

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Thermostatic bath
For good result with a thermostatic bath you should have a repeatable accuracy of the temperature.

Thermostatic Bath with silicon-oil, 30 °C … 140 °C

It is possible to perform tests at defined temperatures by submersing the
portion of the test tube with the reaction resin into a thermostatic bath. The
amount of the liquid in the bath should be adjusted such that its level is
about 1 cm higher than the level of the reaction resin in the test tube.
(Please note, that the volume excluded by the test tube influences the ex-
periment and, hence, it has to be constant in order to reach an optimal re-
producibility of the results.) The method is recommended for temperatures
from 30 to 140 °C. Two different thermostatic baths are available for one
(Ref. 20.50) and three test units (Ref. 20.51). Special supports for the test
units enable measuring in a closed thermostatic bath.

Electric Heating Block GT with Temperature Controller TC4, 50 °C … 200 °C

At temperatures of 50 up to 200 °C our Electric Heating Block GT (Ref. 20.41) can be used. Tempera-
ture control of the heating block is performed with the temperature controller (70.06).

 Max temperature limiter in the heater

 Sensor over watching function and Alarm

TECHNICAL DATA

Actual - intended (Pt100): - range: 0 ... 200, 0 °C

- accuracy: ± 0, 3% (of the scale range ± 1 digit)

Intended value: - range: 0 ... 200, 0 °C

- resolution: 0, 1 K
- accuracy: ± 0, 3 K
Supply voltage: 100 - 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz

Load output
Power max. - Resistive: 1200 W
- inductive: 150 W

January 2012 / Geltimer_db_e page 3 / 6

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TEST PROCEDURE

Preparing the test mixture

Weigh 100 g of reaction resin (deviation of 1 % permitted according to DIN 16 945) in a beaker.
Weigh hardener and accelerator according to instructions, accurate to 0, 01 g.
After mixing well for approx. 1 minute, place the sample mixture in a test tube (160 x Ø 16 mm, net
weight approx. 10 g) up to a height of abt. 70 mm (weight of resin approx. 12 g). Test tube and resin
mixture should have a total weight of 22 g. To obtain exact and reproducible results, it is essential to
pay attention to the total weight.
The time between completion of mixing the sample and starting the test should be less than one mi-
nute.

Performing the test

Place the test tube (including support spring) with the sample into the support of the test unit. Attach
the support spring to the micro switch. Press the start button on the control unit. The button cannot be
activated until the sample is attached to the micro switch. After having pressed the start button, the
clock is started. Insert the stamper into the sample and attach to the clamp.

When the gel point is reached, the stamper remains in the sample; the drive motion lifts the test tube
and, via the micro switch, stops the clock. For the simultaneous determination of the maximum tem-
®
perature Tmax the GELNORM -Therm-Box with an attached Ni-Cr-Ni-thermopile is connected to the
control unit. The thermopile is inserted into the reaction resin together with the stamper at the begin-
ning of the test. Test tube and stamper are thrown away after the test.

There is no cleaning necessary.

Test unit with optical sensor:

Place the test tube (including cover plate, see Page 5) with the sample and stamper into the test unit,
press the start button on the control unit and fix the stamper into the clamp by tightening the screw.

Upon reaching the gel point, the stamper can no longer retract from the sample, the test tube is lifted
with the up-ward motion of the stamper and the clock is stopped via the signal created by the micro
switch or the optical sensor. Test units with optical sensor allow for adjustment of the switch-off level
(i.e. the level to which the test tube has to be elevated to stop the test). The standard setting is
ca. 6 mm.

For the simultaneous determination of gel time, maximum temperature Tmax, and t(Tmax), the
®
GELNORM - Therm-Box with an attached Ni-Cr-Ni-thermocouple is connected to the control unit. The
thermocouple is inserted into the reaction resin together with the stamper at the beginning of the test.
®
The data collected with GELNORM - Therm-Box 1-3 are transferred to a computer and can be dis-
played and archived with the provided software

January 2012 / Geltimer_db_e page 4 / 6

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1 Main power supply 5

2
2 Clock
3 Power control lamp 3 6
4 Start button 4
5 Clamp
7
6 Stamper 1
7 Opto - Switch 8
11 14
8 Limiter
9 Test tube 160 x Ø 16 mm 9
10 Resin sample 12
11 Supply cable
12 Connection for test unit 13 10
®
13 Connections GELNORM – Therm-Box 1 or 3
14 Fuse 500 mA

Technical Data

Test Unit

Geltimer
Time 99h 59min 59s
Accuracy, 1 sec
Cycle 10 sec
Other cycle is possible on request
Dimension,  130 mm, H = 361 mm
Weight, 2.5 kg
Material, Aluminium eloxiert
Environment, -30 °C… 50 °C
Power, 230 VAC oder115 VAC from, ST1 / ST3

Thermbox l (160.81) or lll (160.83 )

®
Temperature and geltime measuring GELNORM –
Thermbox l or lll
Thermocouple Ni-Cr-Ni, 5m, incl. Software and USB cable

Controller for Test Units1-3: 1 with ST/1 / 3 with ST/3:

Weight Controller ST/1 with Test Unit: 4.6 kg
Controller ST/3 with 3 Test Units: 9.6 Kg
Weight Test Unit: 2.5 kg

January 2012 / Geltimer_db_e page 5 / 6

Bahnhofstrasse 28 www.gelinstrumente.com Tel. +41 71 950 28 82
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CODE, ITEM NUMBER

®
GELNORM - Geltimer, complete test unit for 1 channel 20.11
1 pcs. control unit ST/1 (20.15)
1 pcs. test unit (20.17) mechanical switch
100 pcs. stampers (20.30)
100 pcs. test tubes (20.55)

®
GELNORM - Geltimer, complete test unit for 1 channel 20.12
1 pcs. control unit ST/1 (20.15)
1 pcs. test unit (20.18) optical switch
100 pcs. stampers (20.30)
100 pcs. test tubes (20.55)

Options for the 1 channel system

®-
GELNORM Thermbox l, incl. software 160.81
Thermostatic Bath for 1 test unit 20.50
With Holder for the glass tube and cover for thermostatic bath 20.11H
Thermo block GT at 200 °C, 230 VAC or 115 VAC 20.41
Temperature Controller TC-4, 0 ... 200 °C, 200 ... 240 VAC 70.06

®
GELNORM - Geltimer, 3 test units: 20.10
1 pcs. control unit ST/3 (20.14),
3 pcs. test units (20.17) mechanical switch,
100 pcs. stampers (20.30),
100 pcs. test tubes (20.55)

®
GELNORM - Geltimer, 3 test units: 20.100
1 pcs. control unit ST/3 (20.14),
3 pcs. test units (20.18) optical switch,
100 pcs. stampers (20.30),
100 pcs. test tubes (20.55)

Options for the 3 channel system

®-
GELNORM Thermbox lll, incl. software 160.83
Thermostatic Bath for 3 test units 20.53
With 3 Holders for the glass tube and 1 cover for thermostatic bath 20.11H
3 x Thermo block GT at 200 °C, 230 VAC or 115 VAC 20.41
3 x Temperature Controller TC-4, 0 ... 200 °C, 200 ... 240 VAC 70.06

®
Accessories for both GELNORM - Geltimers 1 and 3 channel
Package of stampers for measuring the gel time (alu), 500 pcs. 20.30
Package of copper stampers , 500 pcs. 20.31
Package of test tubes 16 x 160 mm, 100 pcs. 20.55
Support Springs, 4 pcs. 20.49
Clamps for Alustamper, 3 pcs 20.48

Accessories for the Thermbox l and lll

Thermocouple NiCr-Ni, 5 m 20.32

January 2012 / Geltimer_db_e page 6 / 6