Flexible Fiberglass?
Max Krippler
I have a need to make some fairings that remain somewhat flexible even
after everything is cured up. Something with the consistency of the
plasic bodywork that surrounds most modern automobile bumpers is what
I'm hoping to achieve. It would be great if fiberglass-like
construction methods were used so that compound shapes could be laid
up over a styroform buck.
Is there some kind of resin that sets up to a semi-rigid condition
without going fully hard? Would I want to use fiberglass for the
layering or something else? Kevlar? Dacron? Cheesecloth? What???
This is for a non-structural part whose sole purpose is to smooth
airflow between two components that are likely to move a little bit
with relation to one another.
Thank you all for any enlightenment,
--Max
C.D.Damron
fiberglass route.
"Max Krippler" <plan...@juno.com> wrote in message
news:3cc24152....@news-server.socal.rr.com...
Roger Halstead
> I have a need to make some fairings that remain somewhat flexible even
> after everything is cured up. Something with the consistency of the
> plasic bodywork that surrounds most modern automobile bumpers is what
> I'm hoping to achieve. It would be great if fiberglass-like
> construction methods were used so that compound shapes could be laid
> up over a styroform buck.
>
> Is there some kind of resin that sets up to a semi-rigid condition
> without going fully hard? Would I want to use fiberglass for the
> layering or something else? Kevlar? Dacron? Cheesecloth? What???
A two layer laminate using a relatively thick weave and Dow Derikane Vinyl
Ester Resin is quite flexible. Even though the surface is relatively hard,
there is quite a bit of flex in a sheet of the stuff. However, Derikane has
a relatively short shelf life, compared to the regular epoxy resins.
"I think" you will find that, depending on the size of the part compared to
the number of laminations you can get quite a bit of flexibility. Not like
rubber, or the plastic used in car doors though.
--
Roger (K8RI EN73)
WWW.RogerHalstead.com
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair? S#CD-2
Ryan Young
> I have a need to make some fairings that remain somewhat flexible even
> after everything is cured up.
WEST epoxy resin, which is NOT a laminating resin, cures pretty flexy. The
other key elements are to keep your fairing thin, and paint it white, so it
DOESN'T post-cure.
Charles K. Scott
plan...@juno.com (Max Krippler) writes:
> Is there some kind of resin that sets up to a semi-rigid condition
> without going fully hard? Would I want to use fiberglass for the
> layering or something else? Kevlar? Dacron? Cheesecloth? What???
This is a good question for the epoxy experts. When I spoke with Stan
Montgomery, he told me about various epoxies, some of which cured in a
less hard state than others. I think you just have to ask the right
people your question.
Corky Scott
BD5ER
>> Is there some kind of resin that sets up to a semi-rigid condition
>> without going fully hard? Would I want to use fiberglass for the
>> layering or something else? Kevlar? Dacron? Cheesecloth? What???
Flexane by Devcon.
Use the putty unreinforced or try laminating some dacron with the liquid. Done
both. Works great for some things real poor for others. If you are thinking
about something like fairings on landing gear legs that move a lot it should
work pretty well. Use a male mold and finish the surface with flexable bumper
repair methods/materials.
M.J. Carter
I have quite a bit of experience in my former occupation working with
fibreglass on Corvettes (and boats as well), using both polyester and epoxy
based resins for repair and fabrication.
I recall that a sales rep at one time gave me a sample of an additive
that, when added to polyester resin, would add a significant amount of
flexibility to the layup in it's cured state. (It did NOT work with epoxy
products.)
The problem is that I had no real need for it for what I was doing at
the time and only played with it (it worked exactly as he described) so I
don't remember what it was called or who made it. But I do remember that the
additive could be used in varying proportions depending on how flexible you
wanted the part to be. However, at the additive's high proportion of use,
there was a point where the cured part would lose it's overall strength.
But I also recall using it at higher than its maximum recommended ratio
and then bending the totally cured layup sample like rubber. The fibreglass
cloth within the layup fractured before the resin itself did. The stuff
really worked.
So while I'm not much help to you personally, at least I've let you know
that there IS an additive available somewhere for polyester based resins
that is specifically made for the purpose of "flexibleizing" a polyester
based layup.
Start doing some Google (or whatever) searching and you may stumble
across it or a competitive product.
On the other hand, be aware that epoxy based resins (as a group) offer
slightly more flexibility than standard polyester resins. At the same time,
that is not to say that epoxy is made for flexibility; it is not. It's just
that it's not as brittle and will stand up to vibration better than a
typical polyester part.
M
"Max Krippler" <plan...@juno.com> wrote in message
news:3cc24152....@news-server.socal.rr.com...
Tom Frey
"Roger Halstead" <rdha...@tm.net> wrote in message
news:qcsw8.78$Wd.1...@newshog.newsread.com...
> A two layer laminate using a relatively thick weave and Dow Derikane Vinyl
> Ester Resin is quite flexible. Even though the surface is relatively
hard,
> there is quite a bit of flex in a sheet of the stuff. However, Derikane
has
> a relatively short shelf life, compared to the regular epoxy resins.
> "I think" you will find that, depending on the size of the part compared
to
> the number of laminations you can get quite a bit of flexibility. Not
like
> rubber, or the plastic used in car doors though.
> --
> Roger (K8RI EN73)
> WWW.RogerHalstead.com
> N833R, World's Oldest Debonair? S#CD-2
>
Hi Roger,
Is Derikane just a trade name of Dow Chemical, or is it a variation. I have
used vinyl ester, and like it. I seem a good bit more flexible than poly. I
was recommended to me years ago for use with Kevlar. They said it would
better match the elongation of Kevlar when compared to poly.
Cheers,
Tom
Roger Halstead
"Tom Frey" <tfrey...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:tQTw8.164400$oN6.3...@news1.east.cox.net...
>
> "Roger Halstead" <rdha...@tm.net> wrote in message
> news:qcsw8.78$Wd.1...@newshog.newsread.com...
> > A two layer laminate using a relatively thick weave and Dow Derikane
Vinyl
> > Ester Resin is quite flexible. Even though the surface is relatively
> hard,
> > there is quite a bit of flex in a sheet of the stuff. However, Derikane
> has
> > a relatively short shelf life, compared to the regular epoxy resins.
> > "I think" you will find that, depending on the size of the part compared
> to
> > the number of laminations you can get quite a bit of flexibility. Not
> like
> > rubber, or the plastic used in car doors though.
> > --
> > Roger (K8RI EN73)
> > WWW.RogerHalstead.com
> > N833R, World's Oldest Debonair? S#CD-2
> >
>
> Hi Roger,
>
> Is Derikane just a trade name of Dow Chemical,
Yes. it's the trade name for their Vinyl Ester series.
It comes in several variations and is the *stuff* used in the Glasair
series.
It has much lower viscosity than most epoxies so can fully fill a cloth with
a fairly thick weave
>or is it a variation. I have
> used vinyl ester, and like it. I seem a good bit more flexible than poly.
I
> was recommended to me years ago for use with Kevlar. They said it would
> better match the elongation of Kevlar when compared to poly.
--
Roger (K8RI EN73)
WWW.RogerHalstead.com
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair? S#CD-2
>
> Cheers,
> Tom
>
>
Scott Cannon
standard cloth and standard layup techniques. It is frequently used for
cowls, boots, farings, etc. and is quite cheap.
scott c.
"C.D.Damron" <REMOVEwil...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:kQrw8.5976$t65....@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...