Re: Catalyst level and Cure For Billp
I hope your pinched nerve gets better, the few times I've experienced one it was terrible.
Thank you for the link, I read as much as I could before I reached the limit of what you're allowed to view without purchasing and from I read it supported everything I've said to this point. It showed the dramatic increase in strength when you get away from CSM and include other fibers, plus comments on why it's needed.
It also discussed the lack of need for CSM in epoxy laminates, even on cores when they're bagged. It mentioned the reason for CSM being spec'd in some certifications was because the certs were designed for low cost poly and CSM construction, not higher quality and cost epoxy construction and were never revised.
As you mentioned, the link I supplied discusses VE resin and only one formula, each formula for a VE resin would react slightly different to catalyst levels and there would be even more variables when you include all of the other types of resin. This testing showed that a catalyst % of 1.25 to 1.6 gave the best physical properties and cure, these results are similar, but not exactly the same as what you would see with other types of resin. If you stay within the recommended % range of 1.0 to 2.4 most resins will work very well, above and below these levels the resin strength may be compromised. There are exceptions for certain types of resin and catalyst, but not for products typically found in normal production.
