Facts about Styrene Exposure
Styrene, a chemical used in the manufacture of composite parts made of polyester and vinylester, has been getting a bad name as of late. There has been much debate as to how carcinogenic this chemical is to humans.
From the video description:
This video is part of ACMA’s Risk Communication Program. ACMA’s Risk Communication Program is designed to give owners and managers the tools they need to inform and reassure their employees and plant neighbors about chemical health risks.
The ACMA is the American Composites Manufacturer’s Association is the world’s largest trade organization serving the composites industry.
Styrene is an important component of many products used in the world around us to make strong, lightweight, composite materials. There are many wonderful uses of this chemical and it is an important ingredient in many raw materials. It can be safely used with proper precautions to protect human health.
Composite RFQ
An interesting website that I recently discovered is called CompositeRFQ.com, which is a website dedicated specifically to the composites industry, and filling Requests for Quotes. This website works to match composites fabrication shops with those businesses and individuals needing composites fabrication work completed.
A project is posted by the person with work needing to be performed. The proper industry is selected, choosing from aerospace, architecture, automotive, boating, military, and sporting goods. Additional information documents can be attached for further scope identification. Bidding details can then be specified by the person posting the project.
Composites fabricators with related expertise and experience can bid on these projects in an effort to identify work opportunities for their business. If a bid is accepted, the details are worked out directly between the bidder and the buyer, eliminating any third party costs and delays. Bidders and Buyers can go back and leave feedback after the job is complete.
Composite RFQ has some free accounts to go in and look around. There is a very interesting page about using Composite RFQ that very easily explains how it work s graphically.
This site is a great tool to bring the composites world together between buyers and sellers. The old word of mouth method of finding fabricators and customers is great, but does not always lead down the best path. Small fabrication shops have difficulty advertising their services to the appropriate customers that might be looking for the type of work that they do, and now they can go and bid directly on the types of projects they can handle.
IH Hood Repair– Passenger Corner
One of the repairs on my International Hood was for the passenger corner. This portion of the hood was damaged before I got it, and was COMPLETELY MISSING!
Time, effort, epoxy, and fiberglass, allowed me to successfully completed the repair. This SMC hood will be repaired as good as new!
Damaged area to be repaired
The hood was placed upside to allow for work access. The repair area had several cracks and breakage areas. The repair began with surface preparation.
Surface Preparation on the repair area
I used a grinding disc to remove material on the front and back side of the repair to scarf the repair into the large area. Good surface preparation gives us a clean area that can hold a bond and create a transition area. I also drilled some holes in the end of the cracks to stop their propagation.
The back side was prepared too
The back side was prepared for repair by grinding the surface to allow for good bonding by the epoxy resin and glass reinforcement.
Beginning to add material
I started to add epoxy and fiberglass back onto the fender. I had to gradually move back out to where the existing fender used to be. I worked both sides bit by bit and allowed it to start curing before adding more.
Getting the shape back
I actually went a bit beyond the shape I needed. This allowed me to get the surface planes in the right spot, and later return and trim back the proper hood edge.
Back side getting rebuilt
The back side of the repair also got transitioned into the hood and out to meet the front repair area.
Grinding the repair
After most of the rebuilding was complete, some grinding got it back into shape to allow an evaluation of the repair progress.
Grinding on the back
The back side was cleaned up as well, getting the appropriate part thickness back to where it was originally intended. A nice transitioned surface was created, and all sharp edges were removed.
Bodyfiller for cosmetics
I used some bodyfiller to smooth the repair and restore the cosmetics of the hood. I could also have used epoxy, and it would have bonded better. Polyester bodyfiller is less expensive, easier to apply, and easier to sand. I smoothed the surface and feathered it back into the surrounding area to allow for a consistant surface.
Application of Primer-Surfacer
Urethane Primer-Surfacer is applied to the whole area to allow for removing the sanding/grinding scratches and preparing the surface for paint application.
The repair is complete, and the hood looks back like it was original. This repair, and many others, can be detected with some investigation of the back side of the repair area. This will be a very durable repair and will last as long as the rest of the composite body panel.
Removable Blazer Roof
One of the original composites applications in the automotive industry was removable roofs on Chevrolet/GMC K10 Blazers in the 68-72 years, which continued on the Blazers until about 1991. The one-piece composite roofs were durable and relatively lightweight, and way too complicated to be made of steel. Their resistance to rust has left us in the northern states with only the tops left to the Blazer.
This composite part has some mold and mildew on it, but is still mostly as structurally sound as the day it was manufactured. It still has the side windows installed and has clearly sunk down into the grass and dirt, but I am sure it could be lifted out and sanded and painted and re-installed on a vehicle. Good as new!
Composite electrical box
One of the composites applications that I found in a junkyard was a composite electrical box. It was discarded from a former use as an enclosure for electrical equipment in an industrial factory. Other than some minor discoloration and all of the holes from conduit, it is as good as the day it was new.
The advantages of using composites in this application include non-conductivity, protection from impact, and the ability to resist corrosion in tough environments. This is why it has outlived it’s factory setting.
Composites enclosure
An item like this where it has a good surface finish on both sides is going to be made in a set of matched-mold dies in a high-pressure and high-temperature press. It is likely to be manufactured with the Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) process, though Bulk Molding Compound (BMC) could also be at work.
Electrical panel enclosure
You can see on the front door all of the holes from its former installation. Holes on the side were used as well. It was customized for its application with all of the holes, and a new unit would arrive “blank,” without holes, as most applications are customized. The composite can be cut and drilled with metal working tools such as drill bits, holesaws, and saw blades.
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