parnelli97

iTrader: (6)

What is the best way to adhere carbon fiber to carbon fiber? Say connecting a rod to a strip. Also has anyone built a custom carbon fiber chassis? I found a few good priced dealers for some carbon fiber parts and I'd like to experiment with different designs for an ultralight dragster chassis.

C_Suzuki

ca glue works well

ROV

iTrader: (4)

Hmmmm
not that you should glue carbon together, its much like fiber glass, but with epoxy resins..
so if you do glue rough both peices coursly. and use super strength epoxy.even get carbon rovings and bind together...
or if using zap, still sand course, and use the sanding dust as reinforcement. sand a peice so get lots of dust sprinkly heaps on joint...even baking soda works
It works but put on a blue and white striped apron when doing.

joe of loath

iTrader: (1)

i would say epoxy or araldite. as long as you get the mix right it can be harder than the material you are glueing. canoeists trus their lives with epoxy, so its good stuff.

parnelli97

iTrader: (6)

I don't mind using an epoxy, but what would be a good one to use? I searched for araldite, but I can't find it anywhere around here.

joe of loath

iTrader: (1)

araldite may only be sold in the uk... it comes in two tubes, a a red and a white.it is basically just a thick epoxy resin, unlike the watery stuff used for fiberglassing. i think you can still use normal epoxy, maybe it has instructions in the box on how to make it thicker.

parnelli97

iTrader: (6)

There are plenty of 2 part epoxies around, what am I looking for. Is it just a thick epoxy? I know of a few paste epoxies that are really thick, Is a fast drying time ok or is it better slow? Or does it matter?

joe of loath

iTrader: (1)

yeah its basically a 2 part paste epoxy. it has a consistensy like the hot glue straight out the nozzle of the hot glue gun but it sets rock hard. drying time isn't really an issue, although slower drying is better because you can mix it in larger batches, so you get less wastege. i 'tack' what i'm about to glue with a hot glue gun, because it dries in seconds but can be peeled off.

raceGEEK

iTrader: (5)

a fast drying epoxy will dry harder, but more brittle. a slower drying epoxy will give you work time, and will be a bit more forgiving when doing its job. unless you super impatient, go with a slower one. use something to clamp, the problem with slow drying is gravity starts to hate you.

TryHard

iTrader: (4)

RaceGEEK, that's not necessarily true.....

Anyway, as ohers have said, you can use Araldite (which is effectively a multipurpose, quick curing adhesive). It will give a decent bond, and will cure relitvely well, without need for a postcure.

Now if you want a really good bond... have a look for some specific purpose adhesive. SP340LV (from SP Systems http://www3.gurit.com/marine/products_adhesives.php ...guess who I work for ) is a very good epoxy adhesive, provides a good bond, and there are a range of speeds avaliable. To put it simply, this is whats used in yachts, from America's Cup, to Volvo Ocean race, to bond bulkheads into the hulls...

(Quick important tip... the mix ratio for epoxies is highly important. With Polyester and Vinylester resins, to speed up the cure you add more catalyst. With epoxies, you need to use a faster hardener. DO NOT add more hardener in an attempt to speed up an epoxy...otherwise you'll be left with uncured material... which is BAD! This is due the way the resins cure.)

If you can't get hold of anything else, you can use some wet laminating resins (much lower viscosity, as this helps impregnate the fibres), and add some filler (silica is good) to bulk it out.

So a few options there

parnelli97

iTrader: (6)

I can't get Araldite here in the states, I can't find it anywhere, and according to their website they don't ship to the USA. As far as the link you sent for the marine adhesives, where can I purchase it?

TryHard

iTrader: (4)

best people to contact would be Gurit in the US. http://www3.gurit.com/contact/reps/rep_map.php#

They should be able to direct you to a supplier near to you, as I'm pretty sure they don't supply direct.

HiH
Ed