Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Infusing small components

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic22794.aspx

By raypoignie1 - 2/26/2017 5:51:33 PM

I'm completely new to this tech,I'm trying to infuse small pieces of porous stone with resin, has anyone tried infusing quantities (up to 100 x 15-60mm, 3-5 mm thick) of components before. Any advice would be welcome.  
By Matt (Staff) - 2/27/2017 12:15:02 PM

So, you would like the finished stones to remain individual? If I understand correctly then the most conventional method would be to submerge the stones in a low viscosity epoxy resin and load this mix into a vacuum degassing chamber. If you then pulled a vacuum on the chamber with the stones submerged in resin inside the chamber then the air inside the porous stones would expand and bubble out of the stones. When you then re-pressurise the chamber (let the air back in) then the evacuated cavities within the stone's porous structure would be filled with resin. You could then remove the stones and place them suitably (maybe on some release film or a plastic mesh of some description) whilst the resin cured.