DSK wrote:

Martin Baxter wrote:


I was under the impression that CFRP parts had to be baked in a kiln. I am
curious
as to why you can't just wet it out and let the resin/epoxy cure like we do with
glass?


There are a couple of issues, one is that because of the surface properties of the carbon,
resins don't like to adhere to it and will not penetrate the weave unless forced through by
pressure. Some resins will not work at all with carbon fiber.

More BS. The key is that you really should use epoxy for it's superior
adhesion peoperties to the fiber so that it will transfer more load to
the fibers before bond failure but polyester type resins will work and
are used. The result will be a lower ultimate strength FRP but with a
greater deformation before failure. The failure mode is then cracking
between fibers and bonding rather than fiber breakage. Thgis allows more
slippage and energy dissipation before complete failuree. Given the
expense of carbon over glass, it makes sense to exploit it's strength
fully by using epoxy.


Another is that the relative density of the resin and the cloth is out of whack, and the cloth
will "float" itself right out of the resin if allowed to.

Good lord.


Cheers MC