I'm about to test some parts made from prepreg material and I'd like to produce our own prepreg similar to the method in David Algie's now famous video. If I understand correctly, I can obtain a b-stage cure with our existing array of epoxies and vinyl ester resins simply by changing the catalyst??? Can anyone using this method of DIY prepreg production recommend a good epoxy and catalyst to use?  

To be brutally honest unless you have an autoclave for the pre-pregs the chances of getting a flawless part is low. There are a lot of companies making pre-pregs and I have tried many of them but only two if them have given a proper pinhole free finish. Some claimed their material would work but it never seems too. Getting a pre-preg to work OOA seems to be one of the holy grail's of the composites world. If you can get it to work it will be with your own experimenting. The guy who has been helping me out over the past few years does make his own pre-pregs but non of them work as a cosmetic finish.

At the moment the only materials that work are..

ACG (Cytec) VTF261 Which is also sold as Easy Preg by Easy Composites
SHD DF212 which is still classed as a development material but I have been using it for a year now and it works every time if you have a ramp and dwell controller programmed up correctly for how you process the material

One other to think about is from Mhemet who seems to feel their material works but I have not tried it.. So I cannot give any real world results but have heard it is quite good. 

Thanks for the reply! We are more concerned with high strength and heat durability. Our stuff is designed to be dragged through the gravel at high speeds. We'll have to determine if the pin holing in OOA will be acceptable. That's partially what this test is for. 

No sorry... No suggestions. I know your stuff is more about durability. But I think the pinhole issues are more of a finishing issue if you lacquer and want to supply a really nice finish to your products. My original fairings and monocoques looked awful as soon as they were lacquered so the customer could have the finish they wanted. Now I use the SHD material exclusively and it works even at the low oven temperatures I run. I have found I can easily cure with a 2kw heater element which is very low power for an oven the size of mine. I think if I improved it more with better insulation from what I have learned over the past 12 months I may even be able to run 1kw! lol..

I think finding a good off the shelf supplier with materials like Diolen would be good for you and your products. I prefer diolen over Kevlar to be honest.. It self heals up to a point and does not slough the fine strands when abraded. 

Maybe think in terms of a finish that will assist any durability issues (on the outside at least), a marine polyurethane clear coat (durpox or similar) will aid with scratch resistance. The rest of it is down the resin and layup

Hi, some time ago I found this and I think that could be for you.. (I never tried it, but the description is optimistic) 

It would be great if easy composite staff would investigate this stuff. It looks too good to be true.
Fred

I have talk to local dealer, ant they said those resins are for prepreg.
but they can only get me whole 200L barrel.
so no small quantities and i haven't find any store to sell it. so no other info if its tru and how it is.
just spreading info what i got

ARALDIT LZ 5021

ARADUR 1571

Accelerator1573BD

The Huntsman resins are great, I used them all the time.