Use of General-Purpose Adhesive Can Lead to Premature Failure of Vacuum Infused Fiberglass Products

Resin flow or curing interference can lead to air pockets, resin bubbles, and blisters. A vacuum infusion-specific adhesive that crosslinks with the resin can offer greater interlaminar shear strength.

The vacuum infusion process (VIP), a method using vacuum pressure to force resin into a composite laminate, is widely used to create lightweight, yet durable fiberglass components for everything from yacht/boat hulls and wind turbine blades to high performance racecar bodies, aviation/aerospace parts and automobile/RV parts.

composite pieces

In the process, adhesive is used to temporarily hold dry materials laid into a mold until they’re enclosed in a vacuum bag and resin is injected. This is especially important on vertical or tight radius work, where dry materials are prone to slip or move.

However, when general-purpose spray adhesive is used to hold the layers of dry material together during the infusion process, it may act as a contaminant that can ultimately compromise the structural integrity of the part and lead to premature failure in the field.

The general-purpose spray adhesives many companies use can interfere with the resin curing process. They can even inhibit resin flow if applied too thickly or unevenly, causing the resin to part around that area like a rock in a stream of water. When this occurs, air pockets, bubbles of resin, or osmotic blisters can form within the structure of the fiberglass, making delamination or structural failure more likely. continue

 
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