Subcept said:you can use decient epoxy resins that can withstand heat much better than poly or vinyl esters. I've built items made to withstand 2,000*F + for customers. a lot of them also won't turn as yellow / green over time.
as much as a initial pain in the ass as it is, if you plug any holes under the lay-up with some bondo to seal it, and get a cheap vacuum pump, or a venturi vacuum that runs off your air compressor, and bag all that, it will look much more clean, and greatly minimize your finish work.
as long as the surface was prepped correctly (ground to metal) and wiped clean with some solvent, the carbon should never delaminate from the metal.
I'm considering making carbon IC piping for my car, tubing can be a pain in the ass, but it would be very unique, and I can make it any shape I want, with only necessary joints.
if anyone has any questions about composites, I've been doing this professionally for about 10 years, hit me up.
catback said:agreeed 100%
i've been contemplating the ic pipe idea for a while too.
Subcept said:the trick to doing quick tubing, w/o making pain in the ass molds and using a bladder to compress it, or making the tubes in 1/2, then bonding them together, is very simple.
order some styrofoam, in the diameter you want the inside of your tubes to be, or larger if you want to sculpt it to a specific size / shape. using superglue cut / shape / mock up your IC pipes with the styrofoam, so they are exactly how you want it. once your happy, you wrap the styrofoam with your material, 4 plys of 3k carbon should be sufficient, and lighter than aluminum piping. its a good idea to use a strait edge and a fabric pizza cutter thing to cut strips the right width thats the same as the OD of the foam. the last ply use masking tape on the outside edges of the carbon to prevent fraying, which can be sanded off later, and will give you a crisp seam if you measure correctly. you can envelope bag it for strength, or leave it as is if your uncertain of your bagging abilities to not mess up the weave.
once its cured, pour some acetone (fingernail polish remover) into the styrofoam to completely melt it out. sand, clear, trim, install :naughty:
theres the secret, now everyone will do it :nono:
Enraged said:couldnt you do the same piping idea with fiberglass and the appropriate resin? i was thinking that carbon tape, the stuff that comes in rolls thats usually 1" wide or so, would be even easier. just wrap the styrafoam like you would heatwrap an exhaust pipe. think it would work?
Tire Shredder said:so wait, you're making the car heavier by putting carbon fibre OVER the metal? riiight. good plan.
johnathan1 said:How much is this costing you, catback? :icon_conf