Title basically says it all. If I make a small enclosure out of carbon fiber, will it be waterproof (assuming suitable seals & closure)? If this sounds like a noob question, there's a good reason for that.
Title basically says it all. If I make a small enclosure out of carbon fiber, will it be waterproof (assuming suitable seals & closure)? If this sounds like a noob question, there's a good reason for that.
Yes, as long as you don't leave any hole in the enclosure.
Provided it is formed correctly and has good epoxy yes it will be waterproof.
CF is not water proof, carbon fiber compliant resin is. apply and pinhole check your resin religiously.
-J0N
It's plastic.
Thank you. That's about what I thought. Comments noted and appreciated!
You might want to coat it with something anyway, rather than rely on the resin for waterproofing.
Just watched an episode of Top Gear where they raced against a sailboat with carbon fiber hull, so apparently yes it at least can be! 
To what degree do you need it to be waterproof? As far as the likes of a shower stall or bath tub, it's waterproof. But for say a submerged boat hull, it's more like highly water resistant.
GameboyRMH wrote: You might want to coat it with something anyway, rather than rely on the resin for waterproofing.
Especially if it is exposed to sun a lot if for no other reason then to prevent it looking like crap.
93EXCivic wrote:GameboyRMH wrote: You might want to coat it with something anyway, rather than rely on the resin for waterproofing.Especially if it is exposed to sun a lot if for no other reason then to prevent it looking like crap.
I have two friends with CF hoods and both look like crap after a year in the sun. I know they've done "something" for upkeep (more car show than car race friends) but still look terrible.
In reply to Jerry:
Probably cut rate CF hood manufacture.......see them all the time with peeling or yellowed clearcoat. Conversely, I've seen some really high end stuff never do that. 
Yeah you can have an exposed CF look that is very durable with a good quality UV-blocking clear coat.
In reply to GameboyRMH:
Thats the ticket laddie.....
Jerry wrote:93EXCivic wrote:I have two friends with CF hoods and both look like crap after a year in the sun. I know they've done "something" for upkeep (more car show than car race friends) but still look terrible.GameboyRMH wrote: You might want to coat it with something anyway, rather than rely on the resin for waterproofing.Especially if it is exposed to sun a lot if for no other reason then to prevent it looking like crap.
The manufacturer cheeped out on the UV protection. That simple. I have carbon that's been out in the sun for years with no real effect to it due to the proper construction.
Jerry wrote:93EXCivic wrote:I have two friends with CF hoods and both look like crap after a year in the sun. I know they've done "something" for upkeep (more car show than car race friends) but still look terrible.GameboyRMH wrote: You might want to coat it with something anyway, rather than rely on the resin for waterproofing.Especially if it is exposed to sun a lot if for no other reason then to prevent it looking like crap.
I have a steel hood and it looks like crap after sitting in the sun for a few years, too.
Bad clearcoat. Same thing is happening.
They make boats, helmets, bicycles and motorcycle wheels out it, so it had best resist moisture.
All the stuff I've made has been vacuum bagged out of CF and fiberglass cloth, foam core materials, some wood and aluminum and West System epoxy. It's all resisted water, oil, race gas, chain lube, brakleen, and god knows what all else.
It's not the CF that needs to be water-resistant, but the resin it's in. And in this regard, choose carefully, because a lot of resins (polyester mostly but some epoxy as well) are water sensitive. i.e. they loose their strenght, dimensional stability, etc... same for UV exposition. The simple solution is to coat (paint) your CF if you don't need that bling effect.
You'll need to log in to post.
