Hello all,

              I am currently having a problem with my Xpreg XC110 prepreg. In my last test the prepreg did not cure and was still  gooey once the cure cycle was complete. My oven, which is home is set up with a proper PID controller complete with the thermo coupling. Its shows to have reached the temperatures that are recommended for the XC110 system. My mold is a CNC'ed piece of aluminum 2" thick. The mold itself is 20" x 46" x 2" With basically the back and sides of a guitar cnc'ed into it. When I did the trial run once it had soaked for an hour at the higher temp I lifted the oven off the mold so it could room cool. So, what would be my problem? 
A. I should have left the oven over the part to let it slow cool
B. the aluminum is taking to long to reach temperature
C. the oven isn't actually reaching the temperature the thermo coupling says it is. 
Any other ideas on what it may be would be of great help.

Also, unlike the video my surface finish is almost like dry carbon, there is no clear looking finish on it at all. Does the Paper side of the pre-preg go down first or the plastic side? or does it matter? and could it be the either over cooked or under cooked problem that could have also caused that?  Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

JC

Yes you can't really cure for too long. You can "overcook" it in the sense that you use too high a temperature for the resin system or you ramp up too quickly for the resin to flow properly.

Leave it in the oven to naturally cool before demoulding.  it is possible that  with a large mass billet tool at high temperature and a cool air the other side of the carbon, it sets  up some slight cooling warping causing pre-release and potentially some surface dulling or print issues. Although it would be hard to be sure if this is significant without testing it.


Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant