How do you fab carbon fiber, anyone? Options

[Britain Smith]

Can anyone share their knowledge on how to fabricate carbon fiber peices...I would love to make some stuff out of carbon fiber but I don't know how to do it or where to get the materials.

Help????

-Britain (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

[TMorr]

Mike,

It depends on the resin system. Most of what you are familiar will be room temperature cure. Many of these will benefit from an elevated temperature "post cure" maybe 175°F, that will improve the resin properties and also raise the realistic service temperature.
Beyond the room temperature systems, are miriad of resins that have special process or use applications. For race car construction, pre-preg (pre impregnated fiber) resins are cured at 120°C and 180°C - 2 different systems. The higher the cure (or post-cure) temperature, generally speaking, the higher the service temperature.

There are some great LTM (low temperature mold) resins these days that will cure at lower temps (just above room temp), that allow greater lattitude in pattern construction, curing over a long time frame. Elevate the temp and these systems cure faster. In all cases, these can be post cured once removed from the pattern to achieve full mechanical properties and high service temp.
These systems have to be refrigerated, so can pose some logistics issues.

Primary factors to consider when chosing a resin system - what service temp do I need? what temp can my pattern tolerate?, there are many others, but these two initial questions head to to a specific group of products to make the additional choices.

Hayden PTBT