Hello,

I wanna make some tubes using prepreg. I tried using shrink tape but unfortunately i didn't manage to roll the shrink tape uniformly and there were some waves on the finished tube.
My question is , can i use heat shrink tube for consolidation? how about battery shrink tubes?
or what alternative solutions do you propose for consolidation?


 




Thank you!

It can work, but leaves a pretty poor surface finish. You also want to be careful, because keep in mind that a lot of heat shrink tubing is design to bond well with epoxy so that harnesses can be sealed or potted. Some don't and will self release ok, but you need to make sure.

Have a look at Soller Composites range of heat shrink tubing, which is specifically designed for composites use. Still leaves a surface finish with a bit to be desired, but does have the advantage of not leaving the ridges that the wrap causes and is of course much quicker and easier to use. For small tubes I still prefer the wrap. For anything over 500mm wide, the tubing is nicer to use.