RCU Forums - Dye in the Resin?

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Dye in the Resin?

So I went ahead and got a vacuum press from ACP composites over the weekend. While I have been sheeting foam wings, I have never used a bag at home to complete this process. While I was perusing the website, I noticed they offered dyes to be added to the resin. I have always been attracted to having a wing come out of the bag finished with color and all.
Could some of you experienced guys explain this process? I am assuming that the laminating of the skins to the core is one process, and then fibeglassing the sheeting with the dye would be another process. How do you go about this? Is this where the Mylar comes into play? Then the resin does not stick to the bag? Are the foam shucks needed during this fiberglassing process?

I have a ton of questions about this, so any insight would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to be bagging a wing this weekend. It will essentially be a long Kaos wing in the 72" span area.

Thanks in advance for any info.

RE: Dye in the Resin?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: vertical grimmace

So I went ahead and got a vacuum press from ACP composites over the weekend. While I have been sheeting foam wings, I have never used a bag at home to complete this process. While I was perusing the website, I noticed they offered dyes to be added to the resin. I have always been attracted to having a wing come out of the bag finished with color and all.
Could some of you experienced guys explain this process? I am assuming that the laminating of the skins to the core is one process, and then fibeglassing the sheeting with the dye would be another process. How do you go about this? Is this where the Mylar comes into play? Then the resin does not stick to the bag? Are the foam shucks needed during this fiberglassing process?

I have a ton of questions about this, so any insight would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to be bagging a wing this weekend. It will essentially be a long Kaos wing in the 72" span area.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Here is a little video that I did eons ago. It will help you understand the basics of getting a painted surface all in one shot. The object in the video is a balsa cored tail section. The process is a little different with a wing but it should get you close. At least you will understand how the paint mylar works.

http://vimeo.com/2368007

This video is of a wing done with ply sheeting. Although it's not composite it will show you how to use the required shucks and get it all in the bag. Just imagine that the ply sheeting in your mylars with fabric and epoxy on them like in the first video.

http://vimeo.com/2357551

RE: Dye in the Resin?

VG,
Usually dye in the epoxy is just to help you see where the glue has reached. I use the technique while fuelproofing a tank bay, etc. Have fun with the bagging! I think it's the best thing since sliced bread for glassing and doing skinned hinges and wings. I haven't done a paint, glass, skin job yet but have done some fantastic glass, carbon, kevlar work so far. [8D]

RE: Dye in the Resin?

That video is great. Thanks. Definately answered a lot of questions and looks like it would be a good way to go. Hopefully I will get in some practice this weekend.

RE: Dye in the Resin?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: vicman

VG,
Usually dye in the epoxy is just to help you see where the glue has reached. I use the technique while fuelproofing a tank bay, etc. Have fun with the bagging! I think it's the best thing since sliced bread for glassing and doing skinned hinges and wings. I haven't done a paint, glass, skin job yet but have done some fantastic glass, carbon, kevlar work so far. [8D]

Also, I may be using the wrong word. They sell bottle of this stuff they refer to as Pigment. That gives me the impression it would have a more opaque finish than just dye. They have around 5 or six colors. I got 3. I am sure there is some info that will come with the stuff, if not I will contact them and see how they recommend to use it.

RE: Dye in the Resin?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: vertical grimmace

Quote:

The pigments do not make an opaque finish. They do make parts with some fun translucent finishes though. Some producers make fuses with a translucent look using resin pigments. If your resin saturation varies in the layup then the color will look splotchy. The thinner the layup the harder it is to get an even looking color. Thickened resins with lots of filler can look opaque with resin pigments.

If you mix too much pigment into the the resin it will function as a flexiblizer for the resin. It will create space between the polymer chains/connections and reduce the potential molecular cross-linking and entanglement. The result is a resin that is softer and has poorer stiffness than desired. Typically, pigments are added in 1% to 2% by volume.

Adam

RE: Dye in the Resin?

Thanks for the info. I am looking forward to playing around with this stuff.