Closed CF Shell Manufacture

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Closed CF Shell Manufacture

Author	Message
Matthieu Libeert	Matthieu Libeert posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
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
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Warren (Staff)	Warren (Staff) posted 12 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Administrators Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 8.5K	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
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Drew Diller	Drew Diller posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
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."
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Matthieu Libeert	Matthieu Libeert posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
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
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Drew Diller	Drew Diller posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
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 11 Years Ago by Drew Diller
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Matthieu Libeert	Matthieu Libeert posted 11 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 955, Visits: 3.4K	thanks for the info!, I'll be using Aluminum moulds or prepreg toolingblocks 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
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RURC	R RURC posted 7 Years Ago HOT Post Details
R Group: Forum Members Posts: 1, Visits: 51	+x 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.
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