Real Carbon Fiber Fabric - How to treat / protect? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SSMOKINHOT · 10-04-2011, 09:50 AM

Okay, so I got a custom made sub box from ******** and I had them cover a portion of it with real carbon fiber/kevlar fabric. Looks great, but I need to treat the fabric to prevent snags, ribs, tears, runs etc. I was thinking that a polyurethane spray would do the trick...luckily I had extra fabric to practice on, because turns out the polyurethane just soaked into the fabric and caused it to be darker in color and didnt achieve the effect I was looking for.

I did some looking around online and have found a process that uses laminating resin, but that is for molds etc...wont work because the fabric is already on the sub box.

So....I am wondering if anyone out there knows of any tricks/suggestions in regards to protecting/coating carbon fiber fabric?

The Stig · 10-04-2011, 10:04 AM

is it carbon fiber vinyl? Because I clean that with regular old windex and it works great.

Lawdog1911 · 10-04-2011, 10:04 AM

Picture?

SSMOKINHOT · 10-04-2011, 10:42 AM

It is carbon fiber fabric....not vinyl. I am looking to find something to coat it with like a laquer or epoxy or something.

Here's a pic...the best I have at the moment. The red parts are the carbon fiber. The pieces arent mounted yet....they are just propped up on the box so that is why they arent straight.

I will see if my hubby can get me a close up of the actual fabric and will post that when I get it.

Hicompression · 10-05-2011, 11:44 AM

Hmmm....the red parts are the carbon fiber?...or are they Kevlar? Carbon fiber is black and Kevlar is typically yellow. Is there some coating on the fiber to make it red? If so...what is it? This will determine what you can apply to it to keep snags from occuring.

SSMOKINHOT · 10-06-2011, 07:07 AM

It is red kevlar/black carbon fiber weave...the black just didnt show up too well in the picture. Here is a close up of the fabric:

The Stig · 10-06-2011, 08:04 AM

carbon fiber is usually clear coated, so that may be all that you have to do.

Hicompression · 10-06-2011, 11:51 AM

You're not going to find anything that works perfectly. The kevlar is dyed (it's an aramid which will wet-out differently from the carbon fiber). The carbon fiber probably has a sizing on it (which allowed it to be woven easier). The two things that may produce a respectable result would be 1.) to saturate it (brush on) with a two part epoxy like Loctite EA9396 or 2.) as suggested above, spray bomb the shit out of it with clear coat. Either method is going to be reaaally messy though and you may get discoloration of the Kevlar fiber.

SSMOKINHOT · 10-06-2011, 10:36 PM

Thanks guys....we tried the clear coat on a scrap piece, and as you said, it changed the color of the fabric which is no bueno! Have been reading up on the epoxy so will be trying that next!

Unfkwthabl · 10-07-2011, 11:56 AM

You might be able to use a clear vinyl like people use on their front bumper to prevent rock chips.

SSMOKINHOT · 10-08-2011, 08:48 AM

Hmmmmm....that's a thought...thanks

Cmlloveless · 10-10-2011, 03:31 PM

Just put a layer or 2 of clear epoxy resin on it. the fabric will soak up the first coating or 2 then after that the coats will build up so that it will become smooth if that is what you want. If you just want to protect it just put a few coats on it.

SSMOKINHOT · 10-12-2011, 03:45 AM

Thanks...that is what we are gonna test out. Hope it works!!

jlugo · 11-09-2011, 12:46 AM

clear epoxy resin; then clear coated with uv resitant clear coat.

http://carbonfibercreations.webs.com/lotus.htm

10-04-2011, 09:50 AM	#1
SSMOKINHOT obseSSed Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: In the garage doing mods!! Posts: 1,596 View My Garage	Real Carbon Fiber Fabric - How to treat / protect? Okay, so I got a custom made sub box from ****** and I had them cover a portion of it with real carbon fiber/kevlar fabric. Looks great, but I need to treat the fabric to prevent snags, ribs, tears, runs etc. I was thinking that a polyurethane spray would do the trick...luckily I had extra fabric to practice on, because turns out the polyurethane just soaked into the fabric and caused it to be darker in color and didnt achieve the effect I was looking for. I did some looking around online and have found a process that uses laminating resin, but that is for molds etc...wont work because the fabric is already on the sub box. So....I am wondering if anyone out there knows of any tricks/suggestions in regards to protecting/coating carbon fiber fabric? __________________ Proud to be COTW 12/19/11** My build thread -----> http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140034

10-04-2011, 10:04 AM	#2
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	is it carbon fiber vinyl? Because I clean that with regular old windex and it works great. __________________

10-04-2011, 10:42 AM	#4
SSMOKINHOT obseSSed Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: In the garage doing mods!! Posts: 1,596 View My Garage	It is carbon fiber fabric....not vinyl. I am looking to find something to coat it with like a laquer or epoxy or something. Here's a pic...the best I have at the moment. The red parts are the carbon fiber. The pieces arent mounted yet....they are just propped up on the box so that is why they arent straight. I will see if my hubby can get me a close up of the actual fabric and will post that when I get it. __________________ Proud to be COTW 12/19/11 My build thread -----> http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140034

10-05-2011, 11:44 AM	#5
Hicompression Rumbly Bumble Bee Drives: 2010 2SS Camaro Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 1,469	Hmmm....the red parts are the carbon fiber?...or are they Kevlar? Carbon fiber is black and Kevlar is typically yellow. Is there some coating on the fiber to make it red? If so...what is it? This will determine what you can apply to it to keep snags from occuring. __________________ 2010 RALLY YELLOW 2SS 6M -OBX Longtubes FTW!

10-06-2011, 07:07 AM	#6
SSMOKINHOT obseSSed Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: In the garage doing mods!! Posts: 1,596 View My Garage	It is red kevlar/black carbon fiber weave...the black just didnt show up too well in the picture. Here is a close up of the fabric: __________________ Proud to be COTW 12/19/11 My build thread -----> http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140034

10-04-2011, 10:04 AM	#3
Lawdog1911 ZL1 Dreamin Drives: 1967 Camaro, 2010 2SS (RIP) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cut N Shoot Texas Posts: 532	Picture?

10-06-2011, 08:04 AM	#7
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	carbon fiber is usually clear coated, so that may be all that you have to do. __________________

10-06-2011, 11:51 AM	#8
Hicompression Rumbly Bumble Bee Drives: 2010 2SS Camaro Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 1,469	You're not going to find anything that works perfectly. The kevlar is dyed (it's an aramid which will wet-out differently from the carbon fiber). The carbon fiber probably has a sizing on it (which allowed it to be woven easier). The two things that may produce a respectable result would be 1.) to saturate it (brush on) with a two part epoxy like Loctite EA9396 or 2.) as suggested above, spray bomb the shit out of it with clear coat. Either method is going to be reaaally messy though and you may get discoloration of the Kevlar fiber. __________________ 2010 RALLY YELLOW 2SS 6M -OBX Longtubes FTW!

10-06-2011, 10:36 PM	#9
SSMOKINHOT obseSSed Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: In the garage doing mods!! Posts: 1,596 View My Garage	Thanks guys....we tried the clear coat on a scrap piece, and as you said, it changed the color of the fabric which is no bueno! Have been reading up on the epoxy so will be trying that next! __________________ Proud to be COTW 12/19/11 My build thread -----> http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140034

10-07-2011, 11:56 AM	#10
Unfkwthabl Drives: 2011 V6 Synergy Green Camaro Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Wood Dale, IL Posts: 248	You might be able to use a clear vinyl like people use on their front bumper to prevent rock chips.

10-08-2011, 08:48 AM	#11
SSMOKINHOT obseSSed Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: In the garage doing mods!! Posts: 1,596 View My Garage	Hmmmmm....that's a thought...thanks __________________ Proud to be COTW 12/19/11 My build thread -----> http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140034

10-10-2011, 03:31 PM	#12
Cmlloveless Drives: 2010 2SS RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Winchester, Ca Posts: 957 View My Garage	Just put a layer or 2 of clear epoxy resin on it. the fabric will soak up the first coating or 2 then after that the coats will build up so that it will become smooth if that is what you want. If you just want to protect it just put a few coats on it.

10-12-2011, 03:45 AM	#13
SSMOKINHOT obseSSed Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: In the garage doing mods!! Posts: 1,596 View My Garage	Thanks...that is what we are gonna test out. Hope it works!! __________________ Proud to be COTW 12/19/11 My build thread -----> http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140034

11-09-2011, 12:46 AM	#14
jlugo Account Suspended Drives: 2014 1LE 'Summit White' Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 2,351 View My Garage	clear epoxy resin; then clear coated with uv resitant clear coat. http://carbonfibercreations.webs.com/lotus.htm

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