Hi, Im looking a lightest foam core possible to process by infusion, I have worked with pcv 80kg/m3 foam and I know that his resin consumption it’s about 800-1000Kg per m2, I was wondering if XPS(40kg/m3) could have lower resin consuption, It apparently have smaller cell, but I don’t know if it could be impregnated deeper by resin compared PVC, usually lower density foam involve biggest resin consumption
Regards and thanks
try rohacell infusion grade
Hi, thanks. That sounds like to Airex-T92 sealX,looks very good, however, they appear complicated to find and probably expensive, so I prefer XPS, mechanical properties should not be a problem as I will add carbon shear web in foam, therefore this should do all strength, foam only has to help me to make these shear webs, So I’m looking lightest possible foam. Then, Anyone with experience infusing XPS?
lightest foam will be EPS at 1lb/ft^3 or lighter. Common blue or pink XPS is 2lbs/ft^3. EPS will absorb more resin than XPS so you’ll have to test for yourself and weigh availability and cost
XPS has nearly no resin consumption, but it is not as pressure stable as a Rohacell foam for example. For a light “stiff” non structural panel it can be used, but not for a structural part.
Yes, stability at pressure is a disadvantage, about this, I think that EPS would be bad option, however XPS would be lightest option.
In this case, I’m looking to use for structural aplication, but , like I told, foam will be combined with shear webs, these will make structural work, foam only it’s to make this webs, for this i’m looking lightest possible.
It will be like this(Bcomp core)
http://www.bcomp.ch/index.php?rex_resize=273w__273h__d090_bcores_productgroup.jpg
, shear webs are made of flax.
I have doubts about the adhesion between shear webs and skins. Maybe another structure is more appropriate?
The bcomp stuff looks neato. I just contacted them… I want some samples.
Have you sued their stuff before?
From my experience the adhesion to the core is usually pretty good. I’ve used PVC foams and they do tend to soak some resin. I would imagine rhoacell would have similar issues.
What sort of structure are you working on?
I do this as a hobby, I’ve made this before with PVC, with great results, but I think it could be better.
Currently I’m trying to build slalom skateboards,as light as possible, but it is also out of curiosity.
I think for one direction, it could be lighter / rigid than honeycomb, not?
XPS soaks up very little resin. The wings on Burt Rutan’s Quickie are made with hot-wire cut XPS foam wing cores. You can definitely build structural stuff with reinforced XPS.