Release film not flowing.

[TCook]

Hi I’ve tried an infusion using release film instead of peel ply to help stop any bridging that could be causing print through. Which you can still see in the photos. However the main issue is the vast amount of voids. You can see big sections under where the foam core is but also on the faces where there isn’t foam. I used a perforated release film and wasn’t filled with confidence during the infusion. The flow over the top of the film was perfect however it seems there isn’t enough resin getting through into the layup. 
 

any ideas on how to fix this issue? Admittedly I might’ve infused too fast for the film but I have had issues with it in the past even when infusing slow so I’m wondering if there is a way to improve? 

Any advice on the resin pooling print thought would be appreciated also. I’ve chamfered the foam at 45°, used a roller and spray tack to make sure the carbon isn’t bridging however it still has print through. It is still a lot better than the print through I had with the peel ply. 
The print through also printed onto the mould surface? 
 

[lo_0l]

On 9/8/2024 at 9:37 AM, TCook said:

Hi I’ve tried an infusion using release film instead of peel ply to help stop any bridging that could be causing print through. Which you can still see in the photos. However the main issue is the vast amount of voids. You can see big sections under where the foam core is but also on the faces where there isn’t foam. I used a perforated release film and wasn’t filled with confidence during the infusion. The flow over the top of the film was perfect however it seems there isn’t enough resin getting through into the layup. 
 

any ideas on how to fix this issue? Admittedly I might’ve infused too fast for the film but I have had issues with it in the past even when infusing slow so I’m wondering if there is a way to improve? 

Any advice on the resin pooling print thought would be appreciated also. I’ve chamfered the foam at 45°, used a roller and spray tack to make sure the carbon isn’t bridging however it still has print through. It is still a lot better than the print through I had with the peel ply. 
The print through also printed onto the mould surface? 
 

Missed this one!

@John Kimball or someone else might have some input 😀

[John Kimball]

Peel ply is necessary for infusion. I don’t think the print through is coming from the peel ply. It may be the type of resin, resin content, or length of cure (resin shrinking during cure). Rock West’s infusions are as smooth as the glass table they are made on, and they are all made with peel ply and flow media. 
using perforated release film will definitely limit the resin content and create dry areas or resin starved areas. Controlling the flow can help, but in large parts, I like to go as fast as possible, but make sure to employ resin brakes (peel ply, but no flow media) 1” from the vacuum coil tube. The cored areas are going to require some patience to get the resin under the core. Some small drill holes should help, or a larger resin brake. In your case (not knowing how you did it), I’d have the resin source down the middle of the part, and vacuum on the 2 long edges. 
 

hopefully this helps. Check out some of our videos in the video section or in the Rock West YouTube channel. 

[TCook]

I’ve started making the part in two sections. One part I call the skin part which is just the two outer full layers and the other part is the core part which is just the foam core and carbon on top. This then leave no chance for the print through to show up. I’ve also switched back to peel ply for the skin as it is a flat panel and can be done neatly. I’m now getting good results apart from a large amount of tiny pin holes. Any tips on how to eliminate these?  They are tiny and are only shown when the clear coat is sprayed on as the clear coat won’t touch them.