High Temperature Epoxy Mould Making Kit

If you want to produce parts using prepreg carbon fibre, the first thing you’ll need is a mould that is compatible with epoxy moulding and can take the high temperatures required to cure the prepreg without softening or distorting. 

Conventional (polyester) fibreglass moulds are generally unsuitable for use with epoxy resins, even at ambient temperature, and have a maximum service temperature of around 60°C, making them doubly unsuitable for use with epoxy prepregs. The solution is to produce composite moulds using a high temperature epoxy tooling system, which is both compatible with epoxy moulding, and able to take the high temperatures required to cure the prepreg.

Our High Temperature Epoxy Mould Making Kit is designed for those new to composites, or experienced in composites by taking their first steps into working with prepregs and provides everything necessary to create a high temperature mould from an existing part or pattern. The kit includes a highly polishable epoxy tooling gelcoat for the mould’s surface, and an easy-to-use fibrous laminating paste for the main reinforcement, as well as complimentary ancillaries. The paste in particular is extremely important in helping to avoid the problems of blistering and voiding normally associated when hand laminating moulds for high temperature use.

Kit Contents

• 250g EG160 High Temperature Epoxy Tooling Gelcoat
• 1.08kg EMP160 High Temperature Epoxy Laminating Paste
• 50ml CR1 Easy-Lease Chemical Release Agent (plus Lint-Free Wipe)
• 297x200mm Fluted Signboard (2 sheets)
• 10g Filleting Wax
• 3x 1” Laminating Brushes
• Mixing Cups, Sticks and Nitrile Gloves

Further Information

Coverage

The materials in the kit are sufficient to produce a mould of approximately 40cm x 40cm, depending on the depth and shape of the mould. Slightly larger moulds can be produced but this will require reducing the thickness of the main reinforcement, making them less robust.

For smaller moulds, multiple moulds can be made, and there is no requirement to use all the materials in one go.

For larger moulds, all the materials included in the kit can be purchased separately in larger quantities.

Curing and Post Curing

EG/EMP160 can be cured to a demouldable state in 24hrs at 25C but at this stage can be brittle and prone to cracking during demoulding of more complex mould shapes. Therefore, in most cases, it is recommended to conduct the initial cure at 40C (whereby the cure time can be reduced to 12hrs). Conducting the initial cure at 40C is low enough to avoid distortion of the pattern whilst still curing the resin to an adequately non-brittle state to demould without risk of damage.

Recommended: 12hrs @ 40C

Alternative: 24hrs (min) @ 25C - Warning: Resin will be very brittle before post-cure

In common with almost all high-temperature tooling systems, moulds made using the materials in this kit require post-curing at elevated temperatures before they can be put into service as a high temperature mould. 

In a computer-controlled oven (such as our OV301), this gradual post-cure can easily be achieved by setting a ramp rate on the cure cycle. In the case of a domestic oven, or industrial oven with basic temperature control, this gradual increase in temperature can be achieved by incrementally increasing the temperature over time. See technical datasheet for full details on laminating, curing and post curing.