Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Rubber Plug

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic7973.aspx

By Atomant - 10/1/2013 3:26:03 PM

I am trying to reproduce a boot spoiler from a hatchback car. The original is made from hard rubber - typical of the 80s I think. As its quite a complex Shape I was thinking of using the original as a plug mould and wrapping it in carbon? This would have the benefit of giving the original some rigidity as they tend to sag over time. 

So my question is whether this rubber is suitable as a mould, and if so what treatment (and products) would I need to apply beforehand?

Thanks in advance. 
By baja_patient - 10/9/2013 1:01:24 PM

Resin and rubber do not mix well, I reckon you will have difficulty bonding any sort of resin to rubber, firstly because of the chemical incompatibility and also because it is flexible. In your case I would use the rubber spoiler as a plug, pull a mould from it and then create a new spoiler entirely out of carbon fiber.