Fibrelease

General Composites Discussions Products Talk
#1

Just wanted to supply a little review on this product…it’s a water-based release agent that can be misted or wiped onto a mold, and is supposed to yield multiple releases with a single application…don’t think I’d trust it quite that far yet…

Anyhow, the skinny…used this in a project last night, two medium-sized fiberglass molds made of CSM and regular PER. These molds were FAR from class ‘A’ in finish quality, and were waxed and buffed twice prior to a double-application of Fibrelease. It was a fairly complicated shape with compound curves and vertical sides…far from an ideal mold!

The composite was made up of one layer of 12oz cf, and 5 of 4oz kevlar, laid up with West System epoxy and fast-cure hardener.

The one issue I experienced was the tendency for the epoxy to want to fish-eye or totally go dry on small parts of the mold after it had been brushed on…so I wound up using a brush to smooth and re-distribute the epoxy constantly 'til it hit B stage, and even then, there are a couple of very minor pinhole-type voids in the surface of the part. This could have possibly been prevented by brushing even longer, or spending more time on the face layer of fabric to ensure it was laid down properly and well wetted out.

Anyhow, the part was hand laid up, then vac bagged, one part was pulled shortly after B stage, which in hindsight wasn’t the brightest idea on my part, but turned out alright anyhow. The other was left to cure 7 hours or so

Despite my abysmal mold preparation, the part popped out after only a minor amount of effort this afternoon! It was a very clean release, as well.

I have to give this product a solid rating, despite the ‘fish-eye’ problem, it performed extremely well.

#2

Bahhh…this was supposed to go in “products talk”…:mad:

#3

It doesn’t sound like you used any PER gel or Epoxy Face coats. So any lamination resin will run, puddle or look like fish eyeing…

Where did you buy it, how much & size?

#4

You’re right, I haven’t been able to find a suitable canadian source for epoxy yet…so no fancy face coats lol

I purchased it from fiberglast.com. It was $21 for a quart…and in the quantities it’s used, that’ll last a looong time!

#5

I don’t know about Manitoba but here in Ontario we’ve got Composites Canada. I’m not sure if they ship to Winnipeg but it might be worth a try.

#6

I’ve used the Fibrelease quite a bit too with good success.

However, I don’t think it would be suitable for things where you need a ‘class A’ finish straight from demolding, because it doesn’t leave a super smooth finish on the parts.

I haven’t tried the multi release feature either, since it is so easy to just wipe some more on there each time, but I’d bet that it probably works, I’m just too chicken…

#7

The fisheye problem is solved by using the best kept secret in composites, which is by pre-impregnating your fabric before laying it in the mould and not brushing resin on the surface. It helps keep the weave pattern straight as well.

#8

But then how will that approach deal with print-through of the fabric’s weave?

#9

Have you pulled any additional parts from this mold yet?

Im curious to see if the Fibrelease transfered with the part due to the mold being waxed before its application.

#10

With any of the semi pernament mold releases, the making of parts actually cook themselves into the mold and seals it to prevent crosslinking the part to the mold.

#11

I usually use 3K CF (about 6oz) so I can see how your 12 oz might have print through or more likely surface porosity. It sounds as if you are using the brushed on resin as a sort of clear surface coat? Would a (non-silicone) wax over the release enable the resin to not fisheye?