I was fast reading at web, and unless I took the texts wrong, there is today some kinds of sheet fabrics of carbon fiber specially made for non autoclave purposes. Some still require ovens, but not high pressure, and other types claims that don't even needs a oven.
Maybe it's still inferior to autoclaved CF (my bet it is), but perhaps not so bad as typical CF sheet fabrics shaped in home without even a oven.
Maybe the future of carbon fiber is also about create better resins, and not just reasearch for the carbon filaments itself. If the carbon filament of the fabric sheet it's still very flexible even after autoclave treatment, it's a matter of resin quality.
Resin need to be strong to keep carbon filaments together, and the carbon filaments are strong. The combination of strong filaments and rigid resins gave carbon fiber pieces the qualities we know.
Also fiber directions and interlace in layers and shapes with some formes in strategic places to give sheets more rigid behavior.
It's not simple as pour liquid lead in a mold
Quote:
Originally Posted by California98Civic
Great thread. Beware cheap or DIY carbon fiber made without an autoclav!... That bike fork broke easier than most would normally anticipate.
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