carbon fiber prep.

I want to know what is the preparation needed before painting carbon fiber dragster body .
Thanks Claude

 

curious to see this car!!

When are going to see it? I have heard about it in Napierville, Are you coming this week-end to Napierville?
Salut
Sunday Driver

 

not this year , i'll take the winter to check the stuff , paint it , and may be made some mod's the the mechanic.
see you next summer
Claude

 

Do it the same as you would fiberglass.

 

Carbon Prep

Yea, very simular to fiberglass. Depending on layup process as to what needs to be done. If it was vacumn bagged or hand laid w/epoxy resin then I would shoot a good sandable filler and then sand and prime. Carbon w/epoxy gets a lot of little pin holes if it's not autoclaved. Hope that helps.
Later, Ro

 

Thanks
Claude

 

Now, for carbon prep, it all depends on the resin used. If you have a low dollar carbon item, and is made with poly resin,, then use a poly primer. If it is a epoxy resin, then go with epoxy primer. If the item has been bagged, chances are the surface area is really thin with regards to the thickness of resin. If that is the case, give the surface a light scuff so as to not burn through into the carbon material. Give the part a couple of coats with the primer a bit more thin than normal, as with a light scuff, you need all the help to get it to adhere. When that sets up, you now have a surface that you can sand more aggressive and paint, or re prime so you can block out for a nicer job.

Bear in mind, carbon parts that are bagged, whether it is in a autoclave or not, will/can get those pin holes. In fact, even if you do a wet lay up, and don't bag it, you can get them. Now maybe if you do a wet lay up, bag and clave it, that may reduce/minimize the pin holes, but I've still seen them show up. The bodies coming from Roush's composite shop have plenty of pin holes,, but all of that stuff is pre preg,,, don't know the temp they are using though, and how much of a difference it makes.

Hope this helps, contact me direct if you have more questions

coyote

coyote composites
561-309-8937
coyotedale@yahoo.com

 

Thanks for all the info
Claude