Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Post-trimming sticky residue

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic11256.aspx

By Hanaldo - 5/12/2014 3:26:56 PM

Hey all, 

I have an issue that I have never experienced or heard of before so I was hoping someone might be able to help me. I have just finished making my tea trays with flax, jute and carbon fibre, infused with epoxy resin. Using Frekote 700 release agent. When I removed the parts from the mould, they were perfect. Shiny and smooth, exactly as I wanted them. 

Then a few days after demoulding, I trimmed the first tray up. After washing the dust off with soap and water, a sticky cloudiness began to appear in patches. Starting along the edges, it almost seems to spread over the part. Nothing I have tried can get it off, I've tried acetone, soap and warm water, I even sanded it back and then polished it up again, but it just doesn't come off. Strange thing is I can sort of smudge it around with my finger, and it even balls up as if it were a wax or something, but can't remove it. 

For the few days while I was doing this, the other part remained perfectly shiny and smooth. I could wipe a paper towel over it without it feeling tacky anywhere, so I happy. Then I trimmed it up, and voila, sticky cloudiness. It's only after trimming the part that it develops? 

Any thoughts? 
By Hanaldo - 5/14/2014 12:24:22 PM

Well I did have it under vacuum for 12 hours before infusing in an attempt to boil off moisture. Got careless after that.