Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Help with Carbon Fiber Panel Surface Finish

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic39887.aspx

By vniebles - 2/17/2021 5:50:13 PM

I've been vacuum-bagging carbon fiber panels and have noticed that the side of our panel curing on our glass table comes out with streaks. The streaks don't come off when wiped down with acetone. I think this probably has to do with the surface we're laying up on. To aid in release, we apply three layers of Partall Wax to our glass worktable and let each layer cure for 5 minutes. Should we let the partall wax cure for longer? Are we not buffing well enough? Would a layer of PVA over the wax help minimize streaks? I'd appreciate any advice. 
By AlpineCoupe - 3/12/2021 5:56:55 AM

 
vniebles - 3/8/2021 7:16:46 PM
 
AlpineCoupe - 2/20/2021 7:25:58 AM
I recently posted something similar and hanaldo mentioned that wax as the release agent on glass isn't the most efficient. He suggested using a chemical release agent. I'm infusing my panel tomorrow so I can't tell you how it will turn out but figured the info might be of use to you.

Hey, any updates on your panel? I'm curious to know what chemical release agent you used, I was thinking of trying PVA only

Sorry, just saw this. Panel came out leaps and bounds better using the 770nc. Anything that looks like an imperfection in the photo is actually just reflection. And this was just using chemical release agent, no wax.