Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Combining Pre Preg CF with Infusing?

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic21723.aspx

By Boss - 8/2/2016 11:42:39 PM

Hi I’m the new guy here!  (See http://www.talkcomposites.com/21718/I%E2%80%99m-the-new-guy-from-Oregon-USA)


I want to produce a mold that will allow me to have finished molded surfaces both inside and out on the component I'm producing, which will have a high degree of structural definition both sides.


From some videos I’ve seen it appears I need to make a closed mold for vacuum infusion, which may require the mold to split lengthwise and again on both ends with this particular part.


The exposed outer surface of the finished part needs to be a cosmetically perfect twill weave pattern and the only way I can figure out how to orient the fiber do this is pre preg on the 1st layer.


The subsequent layers don’t need the cosmetics, so do they need to be pre preg, or can they be vacuum infused with wet resin in the same mold then baked in the autoclave?
By Boss - 8/7/2016 8:18:23 PM

scottracing (06/08/2016)
It lends itself to a prepreg layup and possibly curing the skin (1st layer) to get the outside surface correct to the mould.  Otherwise you are going to have to layup more material and machine the mating faces.


Scott...envisioning this am I hearing you say that I should cure the "B" stage pre preg carbon fiber twill weave as a thin outer shell for cosmetics in a female mold with a vacuum bag, then put that skin into a compression mold with "B" stage pre preg behind the skin and bake it under pressure?

If so that makes a lot of sense in a production setting for doing multiple finished components, which is what I'm wanting to achieve!