prepregs

Discussion in 'Materials' started by lalusiva, May 21, 2010.

  1. lalusiva
    Joined: Feb 2005
    Posts: 12
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: india

    lalusiva Junior Member

    Hello Friends,

    Do any one use Prepregs for boat constructions,if so please give me a feedback

    regards

    Siva
     
  2. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    There are several members here using prepregs.

    What is your special question or the result you want to achieve?
     
  3. Ilan Voyager
    Joined: May 2004
    Posts: 1,292
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    Location: Cancun Mexico

    Ilan Voyager Senior Member

    I have used a few tons of carbon fiber prepeg on racing sail trimarans and carbon masts.

    Very expensive. Very technical material. Amateurism forbidden, surgical cleaniness mandatory. Needs a very costly tooling: freezers (not fridges, freezers) to store the prepegs, redundant system of strong vacuum pumps, excellent high temp oven.

    And to rent or buy a very big diesel generator because if the grid electricity fails while "cooking" the prepeg, you'll throw in the garbage a few hundred thousands dollars of material.

    Excellent in small pieces like rudders, daggerboards, foils and others. Becomes difficult in big pieces simply because of the scale and prices of the tooling. A medium size oven 40 feet long able to "cook" evenly a 35' hull needs already a special transformer from the electricity company.

    A big oven like the Multiplast shipyard one draws more electricity than a small third world country when started.
     

  4. lalusiva
    Joined: Feb 2005
    Posts: 12
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: india

    lalusiva Junior Member

    thanks for the reply
     
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