Making a dissolvable foam plug?


Author
Message
Andrew R
Andrew R
Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)Supreme Being (85 reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 9, Visits: 94
Hi folks-

New to composites/CF, pardon in advance if I don't have the terminology proper.....but several questions arise as I research and plan this part

The project is an inlet/intake tube - from an airbox or filter to the turbo inlet.  Picture attached of the approximate shape, note that there are two 'bungs' or ports or however you like to call them - that connect to the PCV system. They're aluminum the example below but don't necessarily need to be.  They're plastic on the OEM inlet. 




My thought is to create (carving, sanding by hand) a foam plug, slide a single carbon sleeve over it, wet layup and vacuum bag it.   Approximate dimensions are 3" diameter at the smaller end gradually widening up to 5" at the larger end.  It's about 15" long in total.  

Several questions arise as I try to think through the multiple steps....

-Will the acetone harm the cured epoxy/CF?  I've found using a small test piece that the foam melts away quickly with acetone. 
-Do I need to wrap or coat the foam with anything before the wet layup?  
-What I'm really hung up on is how to add these ports for the accessory hose connections?  I've thought of cutting off or removing the ports from the OEM (plastic) pipe and somehow integrating them into the layup?  Or, integrating a large nut into the layup, allowing me to use a corresponding male threaded barb as seen below?


The part in the above picture was from someone's DIY write-up for a similarly functioning piece, and thus the inspiration for my project.  Thanks very much in advance for any thoughts or pointing out any mistakes in my thinking.  

Andrew





Reply
Warren (Staff)
Warren (Staff)
Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)Supreme Being (22K reputation)
Group: Administrators
Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 8.5K
Polystyrene will work well for a project like this.  It dissolves with acetone.  Acetone is fine on a fully cured part.  

I have seen dissolvable foams and some 3D printed dissolvable cores for similar applications but not seen them readily available on the market.

The Hose tail barb could be bonded in from the inside if it has a suitable flange or use a threaded barb and a locking nut.  Use some resin and maybe a little carbon tape to ensure a leak tight seal.  You can get these self sealing take offs for silicone hose which could be modified and bonded in from the inside. 

Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant
GO

Merge Selected

Merge into selected topic...



Merge into merge target...



Merge into a specific topic ID...




Threaded View
Threaded View
Andrew R - 5 Years Ago
Warren (Staff) - 5 Years Ago
SleepingAwake - 5 Years Ago
Andrew R - 5 Years Ago
Andrew R - 4 Years Ago
Warren (Staff) - 4 Years Ago
Andrew R - 4 Years Ago
raygun - 4 Years Ago
Hanaldo - 4 Years Ago
Andrew R - 4 Years Ago
Hanaldo - 4 Years Ago
             Makes sense, thanks!
Andrew R - 4 Years Ago
Andrew R - 4 Years Ago
Warren (Staff) - 4 Years Ago
Hanaldo - 4 Years Ago
SleepingAwake - 4 Years Ago
Hanaldo - 4 Years Ago

Similar Topics

Reading This Topic

Explore
Messages
Mentions
Search