Aeropoxy Laminating Resin? - Northern Colorado Rocketry

This topic has 14 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 11 months ago by mule.

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October 15, 2009 at 9:06 pm #48724
Warren B. Musselman
Moderator
I would agree with John, the Proline wet out somewhat better than West Systems, although not so you’d notice unless you’ve used a lot of West Systems. I’d personally give it a try – with a scale it’s not much more difficult to use than West Systems. If I didn’t have a quart and a half or more of West Systems still sitting here I would get some.

I’m much more interested in the paste version of the Proline epoxy. For fin roots, fillets, centering ring to motor mount joints, etc. it sounds like the ticket due to temp resistance. There is also an expensive Cotronics epoxy that I’ve heard folks paint on nose cone tips and leading and trailing edges of fins to combat the frictional heating from multi-mach flight.

Warren
October 15, 2009 at 9:24 pm #48725
mule
Participant
Anyone have an actual link to the paste version of the proline stuff? I can’t find it on Tim’s page. I like the sounds of it and would like to use some for the fins & motor mount on my Wildman Dual deploy build….
October 15, 2009 at 9:28 pm #48726
Adrian
Participant
Not everybody needs really high temperature epoxy, but if you do, here’s some more info on the Cotronics offerings:

Cotronics has a black paste epoxy (4525) that may be related (identical?) to the ProLine epoxy discussed above. They also carry laminating resin that wets fabric out similar to Aeropoxy, but is good up to 500-600F. Both of those products are available in 2 versions: one that cures at room temperature and goes up to 500F, and another version that requires 250F to cure but goes up to 600F. What Jim Jarvis used for his multi-Mach flights was to paint on the paste (cotronics 4525) onto his leading edges and nosecone. He was nice enough to ship me the rest of what he was using. I’ve used it for gluing on fin stock and couplers, and it’s quite strong. The mix ratio is 8:100 though, so if you want a small batch you need to start by measuring out the hardner on a sub-gram scale, and then add the resin.

I also decided to try the high-temperature laminating resin for my thin fins and for my sustainer tube layup, since it was simming over Mach 3, but I made the mistake of buying the 4460 (not room temperature curing) rather than the 4461. The 4460 came in tubs that mix 27:10 by weight and added up to close to a half gallon for $80 or so. I still have most of it left. I’m used to cleaning up a messy epoxy area after a layup cures, but without room temperature curing, I would be waiting a long time. It’s also difficult to vacuum bag inside an oven, so I don’t think the extra 100F of capability is worth it. I still haven’t put my new rocket parts through a high speed flight yet to test out the temperature resistance.
October 15, 2009 at 9:55 pm #48727
John A. Wilke
Participant
IIRC Cotronics has a very short shelf life? I know I read or heard that somewhere…

I haven’t found anything on ProLine products on the web. The paste is crazy in that it is what holds the Mongoose fins on – no tip to tip glassing needed (at least on the 38mm and 54mm versions). Sean S. has flown the 54mm with an L and he did NOT do a tip-2-tip layup… just used the paste.

FWIW, the Mongoose is typically built without tip-2-tip layups unless you go 98mm and bigger. That said, there is no way I’d do a minimum diameter 75mm project without glassing tip-2-tip. For one thing, a couple of layers of fabric is cheap insurance when buying a $300+ motor.
October 16, 2009 at 4:30 am #48728
mule
Participant
Why is the good stuff always so hard to find???? I think they do it to us on purpose.

Check this out, I found it on an electronics page talking about the stuff cotronics sells. http://www.cotronics.com/vo/cotr/
Sounds to me like a pretty good match to me….
Description:
“Offering alternative to silver-filled, electrically conductive epoxies, nickel-filled Duralco 122 cures at room temperature in 16-24 hr at 75°F or can be fast cured in 10 min at 200°F. Resistant to moisture, chemicals, and solvents, 2-part epoxy bonds well to glass, ceramics, plastics, dissimilar materials, and metals, including steel, stainless, aluminum, and lead. It is suited for flexible circuits, semiconductors, EMI shielding, thermistors, wire tacking, and heating elements. “

Also, has anyone come across the PC-Farhrenheit paste sold at Home Depot? It’s rated at 500F and has about the same description.
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