Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Resin/Carbon Laminating

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic15540.aspx

By RDCustoms - 3/11/2015 1:09:18 PM

Hello wonder if any one can help me with a few problems I'm having.

A. I've Carbon laminated a motorbike petrol tank with B & R carbon, my problem is that I cant seem to get rid of the grey water marks or small little dots. Tried using acetone & ethanol, tried polishing, I just cant get rid of them, I'm hesitant to sand much more because in places its starting to break through and the satin isn't as robust as the carbon.

B. I've resin laminated the whole frame, however when I'm trying to get a polish finish using wet and dry little white dots start showing up like they are in the resin it self.
I did used flumed silica to give the base layer a decent ability to hold, but I left it a long time with the black colouring paste as suggested.

I also use my catch pot chamber as a vacuum chamber to take out as much of the air as I could.

This is my first attempt at a composite project so am a little unsure. tbh I'm getting a little frustrated with it now, I just want my bike back in one piece, the amount of hours I have put in is getting ridiculous.

Any help would be much appreciated

Joel
By Dravis - 4/8/2015 9:55:40 AM

2-component Clear Coat refers to "automotive 2-component clear paint/varnish sprayed on.  (You can get an Auto paintshop to do this, which will cost you a bit, but give a perfect finish)

The clear coat often gets rid of all the small pinholes, since the varnish/laquer fills them up.

Once You have gotten deeper "into" the layer of CF weave, you really need to put on a new layer.. otherwise it will be very visible.  I "salvaged" a tank for a friend by suggesting a paint-scheme on top of the CF skinning, that covered up the "poor" areas of CF skinning --- came out very nicely in the end .. (I'm no fan of "Total Carbon cover" on things like petroltanks or motorbike fairings.. gets a bit "Carbon Overload" "rich" for me .. Hehe)

Good luck with the project ...