Hello, I've searched the forums, but haven't found this.  If I want to properly post-cure a resin-infusion CF part, in-mould, will the fiberglass mould be ok for post-curing?  I'm concerned about thermal expansion differences between the fiberglass mould and the CF part creating distortion and also about damaging the mould with the higher temperatures.

Is this only an issue if using high-temp epoxy resins?

Is everything ok as long as I use the same epoxy for mould and part?

I'm hoping that I don't have to make moulds out of CF just to get a good match for post-curing. 

If high temps in post-curing are an issue, what are the problems with post-curing without the mould and what are some techniques for dealing with these?


Thank you!!

Steven

I think that as long as the part is still not released then post curing should be fine. If so then it will post cure to the shape of your mould. The only risk I see is if the mould were long, skinny or flat then it might bow a little due to the different material expansions.



I build pre preg carbon parts from fglass moulds all the time. The moulds expand with the oven cure and so the carbon cures when the mould is expanded and I end up with parts that are slightly bigger. When the moulds cool the parts self release as the mould shrinks back to it's original size and carbon part remains the expanded size. This self releasing will only happen with larger parts. The difference is about 1mm per metre.

The scenario I get does not apply to your job but it is still interesting to understand all the possibilities. I even wonder if using fglass moulds and the pre preg oven process can make stronger carbon parts due to the fact that the expanding mould will pull and pre tension the carbon fibres as it cures??