F-16 Skywalker

What is the use of a heat gun and epoxy, does it accelerate curing time ?

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

Heating epoxy will accelerate the cure time, but the main reason for heating epoxy with a heat gun is to make it flow more easily. My garage/workshop is unheated so if I'm working on a plane in the late winter or early spring, the epoxy stays pretty thick and doesn't spread very well. The heat gun takes care of that problem and I might then take the parts inside the house to since the epoxy takes forever to cure in the cold temps of the garage. Thank goodness for CA or I'd never get anything built.

Jim

nt flyer

Temperature will directly affect cure time. I often use Hysol ea9309 (Full Size stuff) and it takes 2hrs to cure @ 60c, it take 7 days @ room temp approx 20c.

Cheers,

Greg

flyinfool1

My Feedback: (2)

Heat will accelerate the cure and thin out most epoxys before the cure.
Some epoxy,s that are not designed for accelerated heat cure will get very brittle and have low strength if heat accelerated.
Read your instructions.

F-16 Skywalker

Thanks guy's
So heat gun would be idea to lay glass into molds .
preparing to make some molds. 90 size

KC36330

it depends on the epoxy in question as well as when you apply the heat. i use West System and you do NOT heat above 120ΒΊ F when it's in a liquid, non gelled state. after it's gelled 150ΒΊ curing will result in a stronger and stiffer finished product as well as a faster cure time.

I've never found a need to use heat during the lay up of molds or parts......

F-16 Skywalker

Ok, thanks to all.
as I will experiment the 1st couple layups using different epoxies.
what would everyone choose between fuselages polyester or epoxy glass ?

Terry Holston

My Feedback: (1)

West Systems epoxy by far...............

747drvr

My Feedback: (5)

Be careful if you wax the molds . The heat may affect the demolding .

Marc