Help with Carbon Fiber Panel Surface Finish

Author	Message
vniebles	v vniebles posted 3 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
v Group: Forum Members Posts: 6, Visits: 38	I've been vacuum-bagging carbon fiber panels and have noticed that the side of our panel curing on our glass table comes out with streaks. The streaks don't come off when wiped down with acetone. I think this probably has to do with the surface we're laying up on. To aid in release, we apply three layers of Partall Wax to our glass worktable and let each layer cure for 5 minutes. Should we let the partall wax cure for longer? Are we not buffing well enough? Would a layer of PVA over the wax help minimize streaks? I'd appreciate any advice.
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AlpineCoupe	A AlpineCoupe posted 3 Years Ago HOT Post Details
A Group: Forum Members Posts: 44, Visits: 2.1K	I recently posted something similar and hanaldo mentioned that wax as the release agent on glass isn't the most efficient. He suggested using a chemical release agent. I'm infusing my panel tomorrow so I can't tell you how it will turn out but figured the info might be of use to you.
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ArturK	ArturK posted 3 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 19, Visits: 53	+x vniebles - 2/17/2021 5:50:13 PM I've been vacuum-bagging carbon fiber panels and have noticed that the side of our panel curing on our glass table comes out with streaks. The streaks don't come off when wiped down with acetone. I think this probably has to do with the surface we're laying up on. To aid in release, we apply three layers of Partall Wax to our glass worktable and let each layer cure for 5 minutes. Should we let the partall wax cure for longer? Are we not buffing well enough? Would a layer of PVA over the wax help minimize streaks? I'd appreciate any advice. Use NC 770 release agent or Easy-Lease from Easy Composites and that will resolve the problem with your carbon fiber sheets manufacturing. Carbon fiber sheets and composites . www.dexcraft.com
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vniebles	v vniebles posted 3 Years Ago HOT Post Details
v Group: Forum Members Posts: 6, Visits: 38	+x AlpineCoupe - 2/20/2021 7:25:58 AM I recently posted something similar and hanaldo mentioned that wax as the release agent on glass isn't the most efficient. He suggested using a chemical release agent. I'm infusing my panel tomorrow so I can't tell you how it will turn out but figured the info might be of use to you. Hey, any updates on your panel? I'm curious to know what chemical release agent you used, I was thinking of trying PVA only
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vniebles	v vniebles posted 3 Years Ago HOT Post Details
v Group: Forum Members Posts: 6, Visits: 38	Thanks for your advice guys! Letting the partall wax cure for an hour seemed to minimize the streaks by a lot, but it still seems inefficient compared to using a semi-perm release agent like the ones ArturK listed. I'll update this thread with the next panel I cure + chem release agent used
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 3 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	+x vniebles - 3/8/2021 7:16:46 PM Hey, any updates on your panel? I'm curious to know what chemical release agent you used, I was thinking of trying PVA only If you spray the PVA then it will be ok. If you're trying to brush or wipe it on, it will just bead up a d not work. Any chemical release agent will work very well on glass. EasyLease, Frekote, Chemlease, Marbocote, Zyvax, etc. etc. they all work.
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AlpineCoupe	A AlpineCoupe posted 3 Years Ago HOT Post Details
A Group: Forum Members Posts: 44, Visits: 2.1K	+x vniebles - 3/8/2021 7:16:46 PM +x AlpineCoupe - 2/20/2021 7:25:58 AM I recently posted something similar and hanaldo mentioned that wax as the release agent on glass isn't the most efficient. He suggested using a chemical release agent. I'm infusing my panel tomorrow so I can't tell you how it will turn out but figured the info might be of use to you. Hey, any updates on your panel? I'm curious to know what chemical release agent you used, I was thinking of trying PVA only Sorry, just saw this. Panel came out leaps and bounds better using the 770nc. Anything that looks like an imperfection in the photo is actually just reflection. And this was just using chemical release agent, no wax.
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