Making Pre-Preg


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Leon
Leon
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Hi guys,

This is good video that cover the entire steps of pre-preg may can help you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9tF7TeAYwM&feature=relmfu

Regads

Leon
baja_patient
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ohh man that stuff looks like a dream to work with. seriously.

And I love how the guy says it is so difficult to work with and takes months/years of practise. It may take a little practise, but sure looks a hell of a lot easier than resin infusion.

Something I want to get into in the future.
Leon
Leon
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baja_patient (15/11/2012)
ohh man that stuff looks like a dream to work with. seriously.

And I love how the guy says it is so difficult to work with and takes months/years of practise. It may take a little practise, but sure looks a hell of a lot easier than resin infusion.

Something I want to get into in the future.


Hahaha.. I agree with you baja.. yes, infusion always drive me going crazzy. Take lots of time, but doesn't matter I love infusion. But even it's looks easy, I ever heard that pre-pregs will be easily create pinholes or some kind like dry areas and spend lots your money to buy Auto-Clave. is it true??  may we need to wait the next video for pre-preg from Matt. 
Matthieu Libeert
Matthieu Libeert
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Indeed Pre-Preg looks really easy, and just like Leon said; It's quit hard to control the technique perfectly...they probably made a lot of tests and adjustments to get those perfect parts.
A second remark is; It's a "commercial video". The problem with those is that they won't tell you how many tests failed and how many prepreg parts they had to throw away because of pinholes or errors in the part. They will always say they have perfect parts and how awesome they are Smile

an other remark is that prepreg, as far as I know, is not for DIY-guys like us, due to the high costs of an autoclave (presure and heat) and freezers. 
but surely looks like a cool thing to test!

Matthieu Libeert
Founder MAT2 Composites X Sports
website:
www.mat2composites.com




fgayford
fgayford
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There is a youtube video of a guy who shows you how to make your own prepreg, he claims it is better than store bought.

Check "How to make your own prepreg" David Algie is his name. He was chief fabricator for a formula racing team. He is also making an all carbon fiber airplane. Its worth looking into, I have learned a lot from him.

I made an autoclave for $600.00 out of an old industrial sized paint pressure pot. It is 60 gallons large.   Good for 110psi

Fred
brasco
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fgayford
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Hi Scott

I have talked to this fellow on a forum quite a few times. What I have gathered so far is that this home made prepreg does not go to a semi cured state like commercial prepreg. It is more like wetted out carbon with the activator already in it that will not cure until you bring it up to 250 f or more. So you put it in your freezer and you treat it like prepreg but it is a bit different. You definately would not handle it without gloves like the OPP Racing chick was doing.

Fred
Kevin-Lee
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Hi,

Well what Fred is saying kinda makes sense, but I think this depends on what resin is used...

See This

Kev.
Edited 12 Years Ago by Kevin-Lee
fgayford
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Hi Kev

I took a look at the forum that David Algie has.(Yahoo Groups LP1  he is the one in the video on how to make prepreg)

B-Stage means that the resin has partly cured at room temperature and to fully cure you need heat.

The stuff David Algie makes is not B-Stage, it is A stage resin, so not cured at all. So really his prepreg is wetted out carbon with the hardener in it and it will not cure without heat. I think he has a 12 month window before it will start to cure on its own. It needs about 250 Fah to cure in an oven.

He knows his stuff but I would be interested to know how wet the stuff is to work with. Prepreg in B-Stage is like using pattern makers wax sheets. Very controllable and holds its weave. Would A-Stage stay together?

Any knowledge from experience would be really welcomed. I don't know as much as I would like on this topic.

Fred

PS Just did my 5th EasyComposite prepreg attempt. Perfect results. The more I use prepreg the better I like it!!!!  
Matthieu Libeert
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Hi Fred, To be honest I haven't worked with prepreg yet. I'm making some moulds at the moment to test it out soon!
But I have some remarks on some previous experience that can maybe answer the question on how it is to work with 
A-Stage cloth, While I do some repairwork and so on, I lay the fibermaterial on a plastic and impregnate that cloth fully with resin and a squeegee.
What your left with is a piece of material that can quite easily be moved and applied on the part you want.

About that temperature thing of A-stage in freezer I can totaly agree this is how it works, I did a chair in the past where I needed a lot of time for laminating.
I had the "Luck" it was very could in Belgium at the moment... So I've laminated everything outside, with polyester-resin, and had plenty of time (I think it wasn't even close to kick-of)
I've worked for around 2.5 hours on the chair (normal potlife 30min) When I've finished ive put everything inside and it started to cure once room temperature was achieved.

Matthieu Libeert
Founder MAT2 Composites X Sports
website:
www.mat2composites.com




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