Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 10:29:18 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from rwcrmhc12.comcast.net ([216.148.227.85] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1.3) with ESMTP id 2560518 for lml@lancaironline.net; Thu, 28 Aug 2003 03:47:42 -0400 Received: from primary (12-234-230-79.client.attbi.com[12.234.230.79](untrusted sender)) by comcast.net (rwcrmhc12) with SMTP id <2003082807442801400j1g95e>; Thu, 28 Aug 2003 07:44:28 +0000 X-Original-Message-ID: <006e01c36d38$6f55dc80$4fe6ea0c@attbi.com> From: "Larry Graves" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" References: Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Cabosil X-Original-Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 00:46:00 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 > > To Larry Graves > > Is there an advantage or disadvantage to Cabosil or > > Flox in a structural bond > > Regards > > Art The contributors on the subject of cabosil are correct: it is not structural, and it does increase the weight of the resin. It is intended to thicken mixed resin so that it will not run on horizontal or under-surfaces prior to gel and cure. All other things being equal, adding cabosil to your flox in a structural bond will not add to the strength of the bond, and may weaken it slightly if you use "a lot." A flox mix with Cabosil added will tend to "stay in place" better prior to gel and cure. Flox (chopped cotton fibers) and milled fiberglass fibers, when mixed into resin will make very tough structural bonds and fillets. Keep your flox dry in an airtight container as it is hydrophilic and will absorb moisture from the air. Flox tends to be a bit less harsh on the user than milled fiber. Micro(balloons) and Q-cell are used to displace resin in a mix to create lightweight filler material. Fillets made with micro are not structural and are easily sanded. Cabosil can be used in combination with flox, milled fiber or micro to thicken the resin and prevent running, but with most such applications its use is redundant, as these additives all tend to thicken up the resin as their mix ratios are increased. It's easy to experiment with all these additives in several small batches of resin -- make up a bunch of identical fiberglass coupons and bond them together with the different additives. Later, pull them apart after they've cured and see which bonds are the strongest & which are weaker. Best Regards, Larry Graves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is." --Yogi Berra