Selecting a prepreg can be difficult. There are so many different variables to choose from including fiber, fabric, resin, and resin content. The possible combinations are mind boggling.
How do you select what type of prepreg to use?
Learn about the most common core materials used to provide thickness and strength to composites.
Learn about the advantages of manufacturing composites using closed mold technology such as resin transfer molding or vacuum infusion.
Selecting a prepreg can be difficult. There are so many different variables to choose from including fiber, fabric, resin, and resin content. The possible combinations are mind boggling.
How do you select what type of prepreg to use?
It seems like everyone wants to use prepregs these days. Yes, prepregs are awesome, this is true. You don't have to deal with getting liquid all over the place, which is great. Just don't leave it sitting out all day on your loading dock...
When considering the move to resin infusion, it is helpful to understand what is in store. The largest capital cost in converting is a quality vacuum pump, and routing the vacuum through the shop. Chances are your molds could be easily adjusted to use vacuum infusion, and it would only take a week or two to train your employees.
So the question is, what are you waiting for. 2012?
Epoxy is my personal favorite resin. It has better properties then polyester and vinyl ester, and my favorite, orderless with zero VOCs.
There are only two downsides when comparing epoxy resin to traditional resins. It is more expensive, and it can turn yellow in the sun. Other then that, epoxy is awesome.
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