Closed CF Shell Manufacture


Author
Message
Matthieu Libeert
Matthieu Libeert
Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 955, Visits: 3.4K
Warren (Staff) (02/10/2013)
You can try using expanding silicone for the same effect. The heat expansion of silicone can be used to apply pressure to the mould surface in the same way a bladder is used.  Obviously it requires an elevated temperature cure and as such is best suited to pre-preg use.


Warren could you tell me what brand/type of silicone and where to buy it?

Matthieu Libeert
Founder MAT2 Composites X Sports
website:
www.mat2composites.com




Warren (Staff)
Warren (Staff)
Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)Supreme Being (14K reputation)
Group: Administrators
Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 7.9K
I've just experimented with standard addition cure casting silicone.  Seems to work ok.  There may be other specialist silicones for the job out there. Just bear in mind it needs to have a service temperature high enough to withstand the curing of the pre-preg.

Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
Drew Diller
Drew Diller
Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 35, Visits: 199
Got some results recently... after spending a LONG hiatus insulating and finishing a section of my garage, in which I could better work in the subzero winter Minnesota saw this year.

The first pic is straight out of the mold, no machining or polishing done.

The second pic is wet sand to 200 grit plus a simple, uneven epoxy topcoat.

The third pic is comparing the first carbon lug I made on my own, that had me thinking, "There has to be a better way to do this."

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/9aaf2f61-afa0-47a8-bc13-0326.jpg


http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/349b7ade-278f-4b60-ba6a-7b65.jpg

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/86afef8b-5dd8-4316-b729-245b.jpg
Matthieu Libeert
Matthieu Libeert
Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 955, Visits: 3.4K
good job! I'll be testing something similar in the following weeks but with latex bladders! 
maybe a stupid question but how did you removed your bladder from the inside?

Matthieu Libeert
Founder MAT2 Composites X Sports
website:
www.mat2composites.com




Drew Diller
Drew Diller
Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)Supreme Being (178 reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 35, Visits: 199
Matthieu - the bladder I used was silicone rubber and therefore largely epoxy-phobic. Thing almost *fell* out. You'll probably want to wax your bladder, or expect the need to peel it out forcefully. The tests I did with latex on prepreg showed a fair amount of adhesion.

How are you planning on securing your mold together? I used an MDF mold with four Uni-Strut bars at 25 psi, and EVERYTHING got slightly bent out of shape (my part is therefore somewhat inaccurate).
Edited 10 Years Ago by Drew Diller
Matthieu Libeert
Matthieu Libeert
Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)Supreme Being (4.6K reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 955, Visits: 3.4K
thanks for the info!, I'll be using Aluminum moulds or prepreg toolingblocks Smile trying to do it the good way
I'll be doing some small tests first with a latexmould before doing the real deal to see how it behaves. 

Matthieu Libeert
Founder MAT2 Composites X Sports
website:
www.mat2composites.com




RURC
R
Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)Junior Member (11 reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 1, Visits: 51





Drew Diller - 5/20/2014 9:38:00 PM
Matthieu - the bladder I used was silicone rubber and therefore largely epoxy-phobic. Thing almost *fell* out. You'll probably want to wax your bladder, or expect the need to peel it out forcefully. The tests I did with latex on prepreg showed a fair amount of adhesion.

How are you planning on securing your mold together? I used an MDF mold with four Uni-Strut bars at 25 psi, and EVERYTHING got slightly bent out of shape (my part is therefore somewhat inaccurate).


Drew I have been reading your posting on this method. I see that you are using Polytek Platsil 71-11. How is this working for you? I have a need to develop a similar process but not as complex a part as you have there. Please update me as to your process and how it has come over the time you posted this.

GO

Merge Selected

Merge into selected topic...



Merge into merge target...



Merge into a specific topic ID...




Similar Topics

Reading This Topic

Explore
Messages
Mentions
Search