Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Flexible composite: Glass Fibre + Silicone Rubber ?

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic16582.aspx

By jan.kadlec - 4/21/2015 11:18:44 AM

Hi,

does anyone have experience with building flexible composite that would be airtight, fold-able, UV resistant and strong? Perhaps silicone with fibreglass reinforcement? The result would remind of coated fabrics (e.g. tarpaulin). The advantage is that the final product could be shaped rather than a flat sheet.

Is there a low viscosity silicone that would penetrate the fabric and cure to some Shore A 30 hardness? Can it be combined this way? Will repeated folding break the fibres and deteriorate the quality over time?

Any experience and ideas are very appreciated.

Thank you!
By Dravis - 4/22/2015 2:39:18 PM

Repeated bending over a small radius will eventually break glass and Carbon fibres ... I have made very durable hinges using Kevlar and Diolen as reinforcement, and EC EF80 Flexible Resin.  In construction I made sure to have a decent minimum radius (around 10 mm ) when the hinge is closed.

If you construct a complex shape that requires folding it at the same places many times, then make the "designated folding areas" from Kevlar and or Diolen.  Then the "fixed areas" that only need to be flexible, but not folded can be made from CF-

Good Luck!