Re: us composites the cheapest Poly resin???
Here's basics on what to track:
Temp
Humidity
OZ resin
CC catalyst
OZ lamination schedule
Work time achieved
If you want to get really "anal" about data tracking...take small samples of finished glass, weigh them on a scale (graduated in grains is best) and cook them in a kiln until all the resin is gone and only glass fabric is left. It will look just like it came off the roll. Then weigh the fabric. Do the math...what you get is the resin to glass ratio. Does it fit "specs" for best ratios...too dry, to wet?
Get a glass shot glass graduated in CCs to measure catalyst...then you can do the math accurately with different batches. What cooks hard and brittle in the pot is way different from the same batch used on a layer of cloth...the more layers you have the hotter the layup gets. A perfectly "in spec" catalyized batch of resin sitting in a pot can cook and be brittle (or catch on fire) while it won't be brittle when spread out on the field of glass fabric. Do your experimenting on scrap layups. Benchmark starting at 3% catalyst (which is hot for Florida work) layup.
Test styrene...take 4 "old" fiberglass pieces by "gluing" them together in pairs. Sand or don't sand contact surfaces. FLOOD WIPE one pair with acetone and FLOOD WIPE the other pair's contact surfaces with styrene. Mix a batch of poly resin and "glue" the acetone wiped contact surfaces together. Do the same with the pair wiped with styrene. Demolish each pair when the resin has kicked. The styrene does NOT make the surfaces soft and melt them together but DOES give better bonding compared to parts joined with only an acetone wipe down. This test was an eye opener to me and I tried it on several different applications. Where is styrene used on boat rebuild projects? On old glass hulls when doing stringers...especially over woven roven where you can't sand or prep easily between the weave.
bp
Here's basics on what to track:
Temp
Humidity
OZ resin
CC catalyst
OZ lamination schedule
Work time achieved
If you want to get really "anal" about data tracking...take small samples of finished glass, weigh them on a scale (graduated in grains is best) and cook them in a kiln until all the resin is gone and only glass fabric is left. It will look just like it came off the roll. Then weigh the fabric. Do the math...what you get is the resin to glass ratio. Does it fit "specs" for best ratios...too dry, to wet?
Get a glass shot glass graduated in CCs to measure catalyst...then you can do the math accurately with different batches. What cooks hard and brittle in the pot is way different from the same batch used on a layer of cloth...the more layers you have the hotter the layup gets. A perfectly "in spec" catalyized batch of resin sitting in a pot can cook and be brittle (or catch on fire) while it won't be brittle when spread out on the field of glass fabric. Do your experimenting on scrap layups. Benchmark starting at 3% catalyst (which is hot for Florida work) layup.
Test styrene...take 4 "old" fiberglass pieces by "gluing" them together in pairs. Sand or don't sand contact surfaces. FLOOD WIPE one pair with acetone and FLOOD WIPE the other pair's contact surfaces with styrene. Mix a batch of poly resin and "glue" the acetone wiped contact surfaces together. Do the same with the pair wiped with styrene. Demolish each pair when the resin has kicked. The styrene does NOT make the surfaces soft and melt them together but DOES give better bonding compared to parts joined with only an acetone wipe down. This test was an eye opener to me and I tried it on several different applications. Where is styrene used on boat rebuild projects? On old glass hulls when doing stringers...especially over woven roven where you can't sand or prep easily between the weave.
bp