Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

laminating on to cured epoxy

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic36385.aspx

By chriscnf - 4/26/2020 8:19:59 PM

Hi guys...I'm messing around with hand layup of twill carbon in a complex three part mould. The three parts are laid up seperately and then joined with an inflation bladder. There is an advantage for me in letting the parts cure to B stage (not sure wha range of cure that covers) and then joining with fresh uncured epoxy. The question is what state can you let epoxy cure to before it needs sanding for good adhesion and what is the chemical process that stops expoxing adhereing well once cured?
Cheers...Chris
By Matt.F - 6/8/2020 7:05:53 AM

Chris Rogers - 6/6/2020 7:36:06 PM
Best option would be something like G10 fiberglass sheet used to make ramps/wedges that fair the tubes into the tube.  Since you are not vacuum bagging, you'll have to keep the whole thing convex to get pressure from your shrink tape.  You could also use epoxy and high-density filler / milled fibers to cast a ramp in place using a stick and some packing tape to get a nice surface.  It would be ok to tack the tubes in place with some 5-minute epoxy or something before casting in any filler - just so things don't move. 

Not sure of the load situation but if its just tension - pulling the bushing off the tube - and no twisting on the tube it should be ok.  Maybe cut a few of your woven plies so the fiber is running +/-45 to the uni hoop.  It wouldn't be a bad idea to lap some of these outer plies of carbon onto the tube covering the inside band.  The band may not have to be a consistent width like the old one - and more bonding area is good.

Excellent ideas thanks Chris, I'm at home using epoxy filler for fairing so if I pick up some high density that may be my preference, good tip about creating bonding area from the outer layers all the way to the tube, I hadn't thought about that and the finish will be painted so I'm not aiming for amazing carbon looks, better to aim for strong bonds! The loading is very much tension only, the tube becomes a crane arm, this bracket is the attachment point to hold the crane arm up at 90 degrees and attach the 3:1 lifting tackle to the load on the lower side.
Thanks for thinking this through!