carbon or carbon/kevlar?

[Gerwin Brommer]

That's why I only use Ampreg21 by SP-Systems .................

http://www.gurit.com/page.asp?section=0001000100530003&sectionTitle=Ampreg+21+Epoxy+Wet+Laminating+System

[raptor347]

Gerwin,
How does the Ampreg-21 compare to MGS 285 epoxy or Pro-Set? The numbers look pretty good, it's more a question of what it's like to work with. The MGS is my favorite, but it's getting very expensive and is a pain to get.

The MAS epoxies sold over here claim great physical properties, but just don't live up to the claims.

Always looking for better perfomance resins.

Back on topic.

When I was building airplanes we used to joke about the carbon/kevlar hybrid cloth as being "prefailed". It does give you a nice kevlar bag to carry all the parts home in after the carbon fails. Better to have double the carbon content and not have it fail. Kevlar has almost zero compressive strength.

[tylerm]

Brian/other composite informants, whats your opinion on west systems over MAS?

[Gerwin Brommer]

Raptor.

I don't know the other brands.
About price : Over here in Holland I pay 81 USD for 1 kilo of Ampreg 21.
Not exactly cheap.

BTW : If all goes well, I get this in a few days , it should be incredibly strong :

http://images.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2f0j00JBnapqYybTGkM/Kevlar-Felt.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/oliverchou/product-detailOoCJpVayhmGk/China-Kevlar-Felt.html&usg=__Gbg13b46ptsZq7Fn8QCUEkRZNjo=&h=304&w=300&sz=26&hl=nl&start=218&um=1&tbnid=KOmQI-0oBShRyM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkevlar%2Bfabric%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Dnl%26rlz%3D1T4GPTB_nlNL304NL305%26sa%3DN%26start%3D216%26um%3D1

[raptor347]

Let us know how it works. My experience with felts/mats is they retain lots of excess resin even under vacuum.

I'm pretty sure I've got rolls of light carbon mat still floating around the shop.

[Gerwin Brommer]

Brian.

The " problem " with kevlar is weight.
The fibres absorb epoxy, carbon doesn't.
But i don't care about weight. I'm no racer.
I'm gonna use it in my CT-03, a 170 cm scale offshore cat.
Running it on 10S2P per motor. (plettenbergs 370/50)
I don't care if it runs only 130 km/h due to some extra weight, or running 140 as a lightweight build.
Loosing the boat and its content as a result of a flip, that's what I don't like.
I'm willing to loose speed to make sure I have a safe 7-8.000 dollar boat.

BTW : a few meters of lightweight carbon : got em :-) , use them for a finish in my boats, to cover the reinforcements ( kevlar or/and carbon unidirectional 45 degree tapes ) etc etc. Like for this one I'm building : http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ead.php?t=7191

[raptor347]

Gerwin,
I agree on the weight. Kevlar does make for a tough part.

That stitched carbon uni is great stuff. It's hard to find in the US and what is available is generally too heavy for model applications.

That mono looks great.

Here's a couple pics of my last carbon lined monster.

[Gerwin Brommer]

Brian,

Nice.
Is the carbon cloth 1 piece ?
Going from one side across the bottom , to the next side, or are the sides and the bottom 3 different parts of carboncloth ??

[raptor347]

Its all one piece. The carbon was layed into the tub before the motor mount blocks and boom mounts are installed. It's cut and folded to close out the nose and transom as well.

This boat was built to run in open hydro against the gas and nitro guys. It's 1005mm long and ran a neu 1527/1y on 6S 6500's. Very competitive as long as the twin 15cc boat wasn't running. I sold this and I'm working on something new.

[Ub Hauled]

Can you post the pictures of this "something new"?

[Gerwin Brommer]

Brian.

Very very nice.
What's the dia. of the pianowire ?