Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

"Print through" residue left on mold surface after demold.

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic20462.aspx

By seense - 2/2/2016 12:57:54 PM

Hi!

When molding carbon parts with high Vf (>50%) the fibres touching the mold are leaving a residue on my mold surface. I don't know why this is happening. I just bought easy lease release agent, but it also happened with wax (Partall). In fact I thought the Partall wax had aged so I bought Easy Lease thanks to this forum. But unfortunately no difference. The parts are demolding easy though with easy lease.

I have been using different curing processes: 24h room temp, 48h room temp, 24h 30 degrees C, 48h 30 degrees C. All with the same outcome: a residue on the mold. The molds are machined of PU toolingboard (Renshape) and polished to a mirror surface. Epoxies used are L + GL2 / S / L and EPH161 from R&G. When making a hand layup of one ply of carbon without compaction there is no printthrough and also no residue on the mold surface after demolding just like when using a gelcoat prior to the lay up.  So it looks like the problem is related to the compaction of the fibre or it maybe an epoxy problem.

In the video of the small bonnet Easycomposites doesn't use a gelcoat either. Is there also a residue left on the mold? Or is this problem related to the used epoxy? I don't mind a little print through on the part but the problem is that I have to repolish the mold and re apply the easy lease which eliminates the advantage of a semi perm.

By seense - 10/27/2016 3:57:02 PM

update: Apparently the easy lease tin was already a bit old when I got it. Sad. So when I got it I needed 12 coats. Last week I needed 20 coats of easy lease and still masking tape didn't come off easily. I decided to try a new 100ml batch of easy lease. Now I did 6 coats and after the second coat it felt already a bit silky. Masking tape releases very easy after 6 coats. Too bad for the 500ml bottle. I always was very careful with the tin closing it immediately after wetting the lint free cloth and storing it in the ziplock bag it came with.