Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
(OP)
What is a good technique to obtain the best structural properties of a flat CF panel?
Since I am not using an Autoclave I was thinking about using two big thick panels of glass as a press mold to obtain similar results of an Autoclave and add some weight to them.
Would this work?
Does someone have a better idea?
Since I am not using an Autoclave I was thinking about using two big thick panels of glass as a press mold to obtain similar results of an Autoclave and add some weight to them.
Would this work?
Does someone have a better idea?





RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Wes C.
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RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Regards
Blakmax
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
B.E.
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Wes C.
------------------------------
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RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
On a foot square flat panel you have to add around 5700 lbs to match 3 bar (44 psi) of autoclave overpressure.
If you have a press (or even better a hot press)it can be done.
I did panel with a hot press, without vacuum, in a frame; the quality was good (it could have been better under vacuum I think...).
GregoireMC
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
I also was thinking about building some sort of frame over the mold flat panels (steel panels instead of glass) to avoide the flat panel to bend on the not pressed areas, and press them with a 8 ton long ram jack, but to match those 3 bar you are talking about I guess I will need more than 1 jack.
Thanks everyone for the good information.
If anyone has any other suggestion or idea please go ahead.
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Yes, vacuum bagging can work quite well and produce perfectly acceptable parts. Depends on what materials you are using, and depending on your definition of "good".
What specific material(s) (fiber, resin) are you using? Wet layup, prepreg, resin infusion, or ??? material form?
What are you fabricating? and what properties do you need?
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Materials we are using: Carbon Fiber 5.7 oz/sq yd,.012" Thick, 3K, 2x2 Twill Weave and CF unidirectional 9.0 oz/sq yd, 12K, .014" thick. We had some from fibreglast and US composites, and probably will be buying more from them. Not using prepregs, and baccum bagging ressin infusion with a 60min epoxy: h
So basically we are building our own aluminum honeycomb flat panels to build a mid size race care chassis, something like this: http://dpcars.net/dp1v8/dp1017.jpg
And that's why I'm looking for info on getting good structural properties on flat panels.
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Materials we are using: Carbon Fiber 5.7 oz/sq yd,.012" Thick, 3K, 2x2 Twill Weave and CF unidirectional 9.0 oz/sq yd, 12K, .014" thick. We had some from fibreglast and US composites, and probably will be buying more from them. Not using prepregs, and baccum bagging ressin infusion with a 60min epoxy: h
So basically we are building our own aluminum honeycomb flat panels to build a mid size race care chassis, something like this:
And that's why I'm looking for info on getting good structural properties on flat panels.
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
RE: Good practices for best structural properties w/o autoclave (???)
Are you using the wet-layup technique or vacuum infusing?