Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Infusion on both sides of a 40mm solid core, possible?

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic11783.aspx

By havagoharry - 6/12/2014 5:32:39 PM

Hi,

I'm still battling away to plan and start a new project but still a little confused on if I am heading in the right direction and if this is possible.

Basically we have a heavy core (which I thought was porous but it isn't) which we need to try to infuse both sides. The core is 40mm thick and made of particleboard, ideally if possible we would like to infuse both sides at once. Each side will be reinforced with approximately 2 layers of 300gm fibreglass matting. The edges of the board have a slight radius to help the flow and form/shape of the fibreglass.

I have seen a few videos on YouTube, this being one of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54N_ZTrPJKI
This shows a foam core however and as presume the material is porous by the  the location of the spiral tube.

I was wondering if anyone can provide their thoughts on achieving something like in my sketch please? I am doubtful of the amount of airflow but would be interested to get the opinions if this is possible and at the same time keep all edges as flat as possible? We can also look to infuse separate sides and edges before or after but ideally the less steps the better.

I will be ordering supplies from EC tomorrow and will test the theory anyway but information on any successful or failed attempts would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.


http://www.talkcomposites.com/Uploads/Images/a04a1ef2-7325-439a-8b2f-fdce.jpg
By Hanaldo - 6/14/2014 1:40:38 AM

Another way to do it is to infuse one side using a sheet of glass or mirror or something like that. Just a flat sheet of carbon. Then bond on your core using a strong epoxy adhesive. Then infuse the second side over the top of the core so that it covers your edges as well. One thing I would recommend with that method is to use some 2" wide carbon tape or 2" strips of carbon and cover the edges, then lay over the full thing. Also when you lay the full sheet, cut snips in the carbon at each corner so that you avoid pinching the fabric when you bag it. 

I have done this successfully, albeit on a smaller scale building 1sqm sheets with a 10mm divinycell core. I don't see why it can't work for you.