Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

keeping flanges clean

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic39584.aspx

By chriscnf - 12/2/2020 6:02:03 PM

Hi guys...I'm using a three part epoxy mold which I inflate with a bladder. The flanges are pretty smooth based off polypropylene board and a quick polish but I still get a build up of thin resin film on the flanges that  is a witch to remove. My release process is zyvax sealer and Zyvax release 4 with a dusting of hairspray as a lazy substitute for pva. (The spray gives my parts a slight texture which is desirable).
Clean up is to throw the mold in a water bath for a day. I wonder if the long soak if effecting the zyvax but my parts pop out from a complex mold super easily.
Maybe a build up on the mold flanges is just normal...it polishes off ok but that's all extra work.
By chriscnf - 12/8/2020 10:14:25 AM

 
Warren (Staff) - 12/8/2020 10:05:33 AM
I have found that with a good semi-permanent release agent, the air gun trick works well or a flat edge plastic bit of card is enough to knock it off and get you back to a clean surface. 

Cheers Warren...I'm in the process of polishing them clean and will restart with sealer and semi permanent mold release alone.