High impact epoxy

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#1

So i’ve been experimenting a ton looking for a high impact epoxy and its taking more time and money than i would like.

The properties i need:
-High impact
-clear
-holds up in cold weather (as low as -20F)

My process is pretty simple and cheap so i would like an epoxy that is easy to use and has low vapors. I also have a hot box that i’ve gotten to 300F.

I’ve been recoomended fast curing epoxies for the most part but someone recomended a meduim cure, does that help with impact? all the epoxies i have tried chip off of the carbon fiber leaving a soft spot with no epoxy instead of the carbon fiber itself breaking.

Does anybody have any experience with high impact carbon fiber or epoxies that they would be willing to share?

#2

You are searching for a tough epoxy. You could use a rubber-toughened system. But I do not get the carbon part of the story. Carbon and impact do not match, aramide (kevlar, twaron) would be the first choice.

Also make sure your fiber/volume ratio is high, which means bagging or infusion.

Most decent higher Tg epoxies will give relatively high strain at failure numbers, once postcured correctly.

#3

thanks, I’ll look in the rubber toughend epoxies.

As far as molding the most durable competing brand doesnt use an kind of pressure. The final product has the weave texture on the surface.