New reinforcement fabrics

[Surfdad]

I have a few new fabrics that I want to test out. One is a spread tow carbon fiber, sometimes called fat weave or phat weave and then a red dyed kevlar and carbon fiber. Aren't they a cool look?

[Cubacheski]

love the red and black weave.

[NICKYPOO]

Are we searching for flex?

[Surfdad]

@ Cubacheski - isn't that color combo sick? It's offered in a bunch of different colors, they dye the Kevlar blue, purple, a neon lime green, etc

@ Nick - sort of, I had fallen into the trap of duplicating the lamination stack top and bottom. Balancing it for the way that fiberglass acts with compression and tension. 'Glass is twice as strong in tension, so the compression side was doubled.

Then I saw a cutaway model of a windsurfer. Those giys are light years ahead of surfboards and we piddly wakesurf folks.

The spread tow is destined for the bottom, with fewer points of interlacing / less crimping it's 30% or so stronger in tension and is lighter too boot. The 2 x 2 twill is most cosmetic.

Then in looking at the deckside, what we really needed there was some impact resistance where the heels hit. Deck side gets the Kevlar/Carbon hybrid.

Like you point out though, everytime I make a change like this OTHER things get affected, like the flexural properties.

We'll see how it rides!

Thanks for following along!

[joe blow]

Will the red fade over time?

[Iwndr]

That Red/Black weave is going to look awesome SD
Can I buy the board from you after you do your maximum weight load test with your truck

Assuming it passes of course

[Surfdad]

@ joe - I don't really know. Kevlar and really all those aramids don't take dye, or resin either, very well. My understanding is they use this mixture of N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone and methyl benzoate. I have NO IDEA what that is It's the carrier that they put the dye in and then put the whole mess under pressure for like half an hour.

It could very well fade over time. I'll use a good epoxy with UV protection and I'd think that would keep it from fading, much.

@ lwndr - nice caveat! I was ready to jump on that deal before the max weight testing. It's a good looking fabric, but it's going to require an under layer because of the way the fabric is woven. I had originally ordered a bi-directional carbon and kevlar from compositeenvisions, but their website crashed and when they finally got back to me, they were out of the red. Actually anything but a dark blue. Blech. Anyway, thanks for the compliment, I'm looking forward to working with it.

[NICKYPOO]

Are you still going thin?

[Surfdad]

Hey Nick not on this one, I want to try a double wrapped skin, this is my incremental test

[Surfdad]

Top first, it's really RED!

[NICKYPOO]

Ya it is! It looks like a big tongue.

[Iwndr]

Ya it is! It looks like a big tongue.

Lol

[Surfdad]

Yeah it does! Now I won't be able to ride it! It's interesting how much color the dyed kevlar imparted overall.

[IDBoating]

Top first, it's really RED!

It will be easy to find in the water when the surfer drops off of it!

[Surfdad]

LOL - just look for the big bright red tongue! I didn't really expect that it would turn out to be MOSTLY red in color.