Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Vari Preg Curing Time

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic13833.aspx

By scottracing - 11/19/2014 4:42:16 PM

Hi there

Im looking at making some automotive and bicycle parts and I would like to use the vari-preg system as I have a laboratory oven im converting to cure composites.
In the video you say that curing time for the prepreg is 8 hours at 80°c, for me thats a bit too long as I dont want to leave parts curing overnight, especially if i get a bag burst. 
Ive looked on the site but may be not hard enough, can the cure cycle time be reduced if the temperature is increased? and do you have to have a special ramp and dwell period during the cure if so?

Many thanks
Garry
By Paul (Staff) - 12/16/2014 2:06:06 PM

Hi Garry,

if you are referring to the Unimould system then the answer on a 120 degree cure would be yes and no! The design temperature is 80°C, at 80°C the service life of the tool will be almost indefinite, however we have on occasion pushed the tooling to °C with good results (but never higher), as you are well beyond where it is intended to be used I would be prepared to expect the moulds to degrade more quickly and potentially lose some dimensional accuracy. I very steady ramp up to the 120°C (say 10°C/hour) to post cure the mould before use would be essential to prevent the mould from off-gassing and softening whilst in contact with the prepreg.

You are in experimental and out-of-parameter territory sotry this at your own risk!  My advice would be to stick to the 8hr @ 80°C. You will probably find that with most ovens this will actually use less energy than 2hrs @ 120°C