Hi
I am having trouble with epoxy geling (and smoking) in the cup before I finish the infusion. this is the same infusion process I had questions earlier
http://www.compositescentral.com/showthread.php?t=7427&highlight=divinycell
it has been around 95F last couple weeks here in CA so that definitely made it worse. I am using adtech 820 epoxy.
when I first start the infusion resin moves up pretty fast for the first 10-15" up but then it slows down and once it reaches 17-18" it drastically slows down and causes resin to gel in the cup.
I had seen this video on youtube earlier so I wanted to know how it is done and if I need to watch for anything special while doing this.
[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x42LwtuU5fQ”]Vacuum infusion process by Fibermax Composites - YouTube[/ame]
My question is when do i stop the first feed and open the 2nd inlet? before resin reaches to 2nd inlet or after. I had once done this on a smaller test sample and when resin reaches second spiral wrap it fills the spiral with resin.
my other question is looking at the pics from previous post is there a better way for me to run my vac and feed lines? I am also using MTI hose
Why don’t start infusion in the center? If infusing like in the video open the second inlet after resin has passed.
I would wait until the flow front passes the 2nd inlet before opening the second inlet and then close the first inlet after that. Also, if your resin is gelling too fast I would either switch to a slower hardener or use an ice bath to extend the pot life of your resin. Just remember that chilling the resin will also increase viscosity slightly.
Thanks guys. If I wanted to infuse from center, anything special i need to watch out for? Obviously place vacuum (mti) on both sides and feed in the middle… Anything else that might get Me off guard while infusing?
If you use sprial wrap as a feed line in the middle of your part it will leave an indention in your part. Enka Channel made by Colbond or Omega flow by Airtech will leave less of a mark since they are wide and flat. Just make sure to use peel ply under them so you can remove them.
Using spiral tube in the middle is no problem, just lay 2 or 3 layers of flow media below it.
But the other two materials also work well.
ok so i just finished setting up center feed for the infusion. I put 2 mti hose top and bottom with separate vacuum shut off valves and spiral wrap with T fitting in center, I put 2 additional layers of flow mesh under spiral wrap. foam is 1/8" thick and perforated 1mm diameter every 20mm (diamond pattern)
looking at the pictures, is everything ok?
my only concern is if feed line leaves a mark…
Thank you
Bryan
That will work. Your flow media seems to be quite thin. May be it will leave a light mark, next time use 3 layers of flow media or take a flat inlet hose like the enka flow.
I usually wrap the spiral tube with the mesh. I saw that if I do so, nylon over and at the sides of spiral tube doesn’t block resin flow
do you mean enka fusion channel? cause if so I have some of it around. never used it before… how do i use it in this setup?
Enka Channel can be used just like spiral wrap for a feed line. Lay it down on top of the peel ply and flow mesh and attach the feed line through the bag using a tee fitting. Be sure to insert the parallel legs of the tee fitting inside the fabric tube of the Enka Channel by cutting a small hole. The RICs (resin infusion connector) from Airtech are nice to use with Enka Channel and are reusable if you are willing to beat the cured resin out of them after each infusion.
We have always just used the spiral wrap which we wrap with peel ply (which acts like a filter for air and any crap) then transfer mesh (to allow good flow), then we pinch it up into a pleat so that it’s not touching the part.
Using PaintCAD: The blue is the wrap, the brown is peel ply, the green is mesh and the purple is bag.
I do the same but without peel ply around spiral
Thats easy, why havn’t I thought about that? I know people doing that with the MTI hose and peelply not to leave a print when using it on the part, but I did not think about that for the resin inlet.
hhhm that is pretty interesting!! too bad I saw this after I made my lay up !
Anyways, I have never used enka jacket so for those who have, can you tell me if this is correct? I am trying not to have print … lay up is 1 layer carbon, 1/8" foam and another carbon layer peel ply, mesh and bag of course 
i put the inlet through the bag and there is a T connector inside the enka jacket.
btw would just using he spiral wrap make marks on the bottom layer (mold side) since there is a foam in the middle? i really do not care about the top layer (bag side) !
Thanks guys
Thats correct. You din’t have to care of a print through at the mould side.
OK so I did infuse the above panel and WOW using enka jacket the infusion was much faster than spiral wrap. however once cured it was really hard to remove the enka jacket.I ended up using wedges and a hammer. Is there anything I can do to make that process easier?
Yes, use a perforated film between mesh and peelply. If you do larger structures, this is about the only way to get things out.
Other option is to use a material called “fibertex compoflex” which is spectacularly easy to remove (hold one edge with thumb and index finger, then pull complete sheet loose…
available in various options:
Compoflex 150: gives smooth surface
Compoflex 150 SB: gives rough surface (peelply surface)
Compoflx 150 RF: gives smooth surface, infusion mesh incorporated
Compoflex 150 RFSB: gives rough surface, infusion mesh incorporated
www.fibertex.dk
As for putting infusion lines in mesh: take a look at this Airtech product: (tube mesh)
+1 for the Compoflex. Tried a sample and intentionally over saturated it. Came off with almost no effort even at the edges where the breather side was directly in contact with the laminate.