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nreindel
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I am researching the most economical way for us to source carbon fiber pre-preg for our prototyping shop. I was wondering if there are any cross-compatibility issues I need to be aware of when it comes to laminating prepregs from multiple suppliers. Specifically, I want to cure UF3325 TCR™ RESIN from Composite Envisions with Easy Composites' XPreg XC110 Resin. Is there an easy way to tell if these epoxies are compatible?
Thanks,
Nathan
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Steve Broad
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+xI am researching the most economical way for us to source carbon fiber pre-preg for our prototyping shop. I was wondering if there are any cross-compatibility issues I need to be aware of when it comes to laminating prepregs from multiple suppliers. Specifically, I want to cure UF3325 TCR™ RESIN from Composite Envisions with Easy Composites' XPreg XC110 Resin. Is there an easy way to tell if these epoxies are compatible? Thanks, Nathan I guess ask each supplier whether their product is compatible with the other :-) My guess is that the epoxies will be compatible, chemically, but the temp ramp and curing temps need to be compatible also. I have mixed Easy Composites' previous prepreg with SHD stuff with no issues.
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Hanaldo
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Not all epoxies are the same and they dont all play nicely together. Before the X-Preg system, I tested co-curing several brands of pre-preg together in an attempt to find a unidirectional material I could use with EasyPreg. Not one of them worked. They all cured fine, but they all delaminated from each other. You could peel the various brands apart like they had release film between them.
There's no hard and fast rule for this sort of thing, but it is always safer to assume that they will not be compatible and do some tests. I highly doubt the manufacturers will know what other systems theirs may be compatible with, theres just too many variables to know that - the reply will always be "we dont know, you'll need to test it yourself". You may get lucky and find a combination that works, but nobody is going to be able to tell you for sure - you need to test it all yourself and be comfortable with the results you get.
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Lester Populaire
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+xNot all epoxies are the same and they dont all play nicely together. Before the X-Preg system, I tested co-curing several brands of pre-preg together in an attempt to find a unidirectional material I could use with EasyPreg. Not one of them worked. They all cured fine, but they all delaminated from each other. You could peel the various brands apart like they had release film between them. There's no hard and fast rule for this sort of thing, but it is always safer to assume that they will not be compatible and do some tests. I highly doubt the manufacturers will know what other systems theirs may be compatible with, theres just too many variables to know that - the reply will always be "we dont know, you'll need to test it yourself". You may get lucky and find a combination that works, but nobody is going to be able to tell you for sure - you need to test it all yourself and be comfortable with the results you get. had the exact same experience in my shop...
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Steve Broad
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+xNot all epoxies are the same and they dont all play nicely together. Before the X-Preg system, I tested co-curing several brands of pre-preg together in an attempt to find a unidirectional material I could use with EasyPreg. Not one of them worked. They all cured fine, but they all delaminated from each other. You could peel the various brands apart like they had release film between them. There's no hard and fast rule for this sort of thing, but it is always safer to assume that they will not be compatible and do some tests. I highly doubt the manufacturers will know what other systems theirs may be compatible with, theres just too many variables to know that - the reply will always be "we dont know, you'll need to test it yourself". You may get lucky and find a combination that works, but nobody is going to be able to tell you for sure - you need to test it all yourself and be comfortable with the results you get. You learn something new every day :-) I can only base my comments on my own experiences and agree with you that testing is the only way to find out. We need to ask the OP why he needs to mix epoxies? Probably best not to as even testing, unless under long term laboratory conditions, will tell you the actual bond strength and longevity of the bond. My mix was on a non critical car interior panel.
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Warren (Staff)
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At the very least you need to consider pre-pregs with very similar cure profiles. Significantly different cure profiles is asking for trouble as one part will cure before the other and hence delamination and weak inter laminar bonds are quite easy to see why they might happen. Also with resin flowing at different temperatures, you may well get a poor surface finish.
Unless the manufacturer of a pre-preg system has tested or designed it work with some other systems (can happen with surface layers for example) then you would need to do your own tests to see if it works properly.
Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
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Fasta
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No manufacturer would say that it is ok to do so. Although I have been mixing pre pregs for 20 years and not had a single related issue with it.
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f1rob
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As others have said sucking and see
Most will work together no problem
At the moment am doing some f1 pod fronts
6 different materials (1 glass 5 carbon)
Woven an ud
4 different weaves
3 different resin systems
Works fine
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Steve Broad
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+xAs others have said sucking and see Most will work together no problem At the moment am doing some f1 pod fronts 6 different materials (1 glass 5 carbon) Woven an ud 4 different weaves 3 different resin systems Works fine Very interesting. Why are you having to use different resin systems (apart from because of glass and carbon)?
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f1rob
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+x+xAs others have said sucking and see Most will work together no problem At the moment am doing some f1 pod fronts 6 different materials (1 glass 5 carbon) Woven an ud 4 different weaves 3 different resin systems Works fine Very interesting. Why are you having to use different resin systems (apart from because of glass and carbon)? Most teams can't get all their materials from one supplier That an young composite designers like to appear really clever an inventive an make it as complicated as possible Lot to be said for KISS but no we have a part with flat tow,u/d,glass,satin weave an 2x2 twill all for a bit of bodywork !
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