carbon fiber brake cooling ducts

General Composites Discussions Composites Talk
#1

Hi everyone,
I have been thinking of making a cf brake cooling ducts for my Honda S2000. i have seen it made out of cf pretty often, however I have couple questions and knew that some people here could come to help :o
here are couple of pictures of the spindle mounted ducts that in my case would be attached to a 2.5" tube.
what of type of temperature would this part see? I would imagine that rotors themselves would get up to 600C, however this piece is not attached to it and also air is traveling through it most of the times… and based on this answer what type of resin should be used.
and also has anyone here made a part like this before and can share their knowledge, and possibly do a small production run?

Thanks
Bryan

#2

Those ducts are cool man! My zo6 has drilled rotors so the ducts on mine just blow on the rotor. It looks like those direct air through the vanes!. Within reason I would say use an epoxy or ve and you should be good.

#3

These parts can see quite some temperature. Imagine braking hard (circuit work) for a couple of times, then do an emergency stop, and leave the car. (no airflow…)

The rotors get 600 degrees C or more, and heat is radiating onto your part.

In any case I would see if you can find a Tg 200+ resin, to prevent any distortion, and hope the part will not see 260+, at which temperature a hydrocarbon resin will start to detoriate rapidly.

#4

I’m interested too, I have to do for a friend. My doubt is the themperature when the car stops.
If the ducts aren’t in contact, with a 3/4 cm space, do you think it’s always necessary a high temperature resin?

Herman, do you know phenolic resins? Are they applicable with carbon fibre? I found that they are also used with glass into chimney (with heat resistence of 400 and 1000°C, depending on resin)

#5

Use the starfire resin and pyrolise it. Than you will have a nice and light carbon ceramic part.

#6

very interesting, I did not know this material…thanks

http://www.starfiresystems.com/index.html

#7

Advanced composites 45el

#8

is that a pre-peg? Advanced composites 45el

#9

Yes. it is.

#10

Maybe the best way is to manufacture one with a relatively cheap epoxy, stick it on the car with some TCs and measure what kind of temperatures it experiences and just hope it holds together alright until you get some readings?

#11

I seriously doubt most people have this ability!!!

Hell, I do, and never had luck with this product. It also outgases ammonia when being stored, EVEN with a N2 purge. SOB spat on me once, and covered me with resin. I also stripped in the lab right there. One whif will knock you flat!!!
You need an inert furnace to pyrolise it correctly. I’m sure if you have a preform/prepreg it would be easier than what I had to deal with…

But yeah, won’t have heat troubles :slight_smile:

#12

What IS the service on phenolics anyway? BMI’s would work, along with maybe Homide 400 from HOS Technik.

#13

The Parts in the pictures are made mostly in glass and wet layup.
Probably also the resin used aren’t so high tech…
Vinylester maybe?

#14

all depends on the service temp, and durability. If, say, NASCAR, they crash all the time anyway, so they don’t need it to last for years. If a normal car for show, then it doesn’t need high temp resins. I think there are a few high-temp VER’s (Derakane?), but I still say it’s an epoxy.