Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Hi All, newbie looking for some help.

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic22822.aspx

By WillHack - 2/28/2017 7:30:59 PM

Hi guys and girls
I am new to the composite world and need some advice and help in my first project. I plan to make a mould from an existing porcelain fish ( strange I know!). A few questions. Will the mould starter kit be ok to use with porcelain, is there anything I need to be aware of. I've attached a photo of the fish below and I plan to make a few from carbon for an art project. Due to its small detail around the fins and eyes I was wonder what fabric (weight and kind) would be the best to use. Would I require a vacuum or can I get away without one? Thanks for all the help!
Will  
By Warren (Staff) - 3/1/2017 9:23:41 AM

Welcome to the forum.

If you are doing it single sided, it should be possible to make a mould of it.  The problem with a lot of ceramics is its fragility - it can be too easy to break the part when you try and demould.  That said, you should be able to make a good mould no problem.

Laying up the cloth, it will always be difficult to get the exact detail down the spine and eyes perfect without it to an extent being part resin filled.  A fine cloth will help and you may need to accept some use of spray tack to get the fibre into the detail (and the inevitable slight distortion of the weave this would cause.). 

The fabric to consider is our Carbon Fibre Plain Weave 1k 90g which is as fine a fabric as we stock and should be able to follow the pattern.  It is quite fragile so care will be needed in handling. Alternatively go for the ProFinish version of the same cloth which will cut with scissors into precise shapes without fraying. you could then in effect cut small pieces for the eyes and spine detail individually laying them in the mould, then lay a fresh layer of cloth on top meaning the fresh layer is not distorted as it doesn't have to conform to the detail shapes as they are already carbon filled.

You should be able to do this with wet lay with a bit of care and practice, but you might find your first couple are not so great as you build experience.