Preping for my first infusion. Read a lot on here…watched videos. My question is on the MCI video they use preforated plastic. I used P3 preforated plasticas. Is this OK and who else has used it? Just want some reasurance. Using freecote 700 for release on glass. 1 layer of 5.7 carbon, 1 layer of 11 oz. 8hs carbon. Next is peel ply to 1-2" past edge of material, then preforated plastic and greenflow to about 1" from edge of laminate. Adtech EL 350 epoxy. Spiral wrap around entire laminate covered in peel ply and “t” connecting ends and pump line. Inkafusion in the center with 5/16" resin feed hose to that. Am I missing anything? Thanks in advance.
Send a pic, what is the geometry of your laminate? A flat panel?
I would recommend not using perforated release film, just use a good release peel ply. Your laminate is off balanced, probably will potatoe chip on you. you would need to add another 8hs and flip it then another 5.7 3k. If you want a thinner laminate then that you would either need to stack the 3k together till you get your thickness or get a balanced 6k or 12k weave such as a twill. harness satins are not a balanced weave.
Ryan, it is a flat panel 15" X 21". It is only to test. Hojo, not sure what you mean by a balanced laminate. Thanks for your replies.
the way the material is weaved makes it unbalanced. if you look at one side you will find the fibers will be the majority in the weft, on the other side will be in the warp direction. with out flipping and mirroring your laminate you are creating a laminate that is not symmetrical which especially in a flat panel at that thickness would more than likely potatoe chip your panel.
Thanks Hojo, now I get it.
Yup ditch the perforated release film and just use peel ply. What kind of Enkaflow are you using?
Rotorage, it’s the Enkafusion filter jacket from Fibre Glast. I did the infusion today so I’ll see tomorrow. I did get rid of the preforated plastic.
Well infusion went well…but laminate stuck to the glass. I had used frecote 700. I buffed the glass with a buffer and may have had buffing compound on the pad. I recoated the glass tonight and did another infusion so I’ll see tomorrow. I see these tests are helpful in understanding the characteristics of infusion.
did you buff the glass before or after applying the release? how many coats did you apply?
2 coats and buffed after. Tried again today. No stick but my 3/8 thick glass cracked while I heated the laminate to 200 degrees. I must not have mixed enough catalyst because the epoxy never cured correctly…Big learning curve. More testing tomorrow.
Its usually ok to lightly hand buff streaks off with most semi permanent release, but even this will remove some release. However using a buffer will be way too aggressive and strip the release completely off your glass. Really youre suppose to only apply the release to the mold surface, let cure and laminate.
Without perforated film, have fun removing the peelply/mesh combo from the part.
P3 film is not suitable, get P, P1, P16 or MP22 (the last one being the most desirable) or Compoflex 150RF (for a smooth finish) or Compoflex 150SBRF (for a peelply textured finish)
with the correct peelply removing the media is not difficult at all.
thanks for the replies. I have no problem removing my peel ply and other ancillaries.