Mosites #10320 Curing Procedures Guide

The procedures outlined below are general recommendations for film bagging and autoclave curing of a typical pressure intensifier lay-up.

A. Preparation of Mold or Tool Surface

1.  Lay-up tooling or molds are usually aluminum. They should be cleaned with solvent to remove oil or residue from previous cures. (Acetone; MEK; etc.)
2. The tooling should be coated with suitable release agent. Teflon Aerosol Spray available from several manufacturers imparts good release characteristics. (Freekote; Cadco #1000; etc.) Allow any residual solvents in the release coating to air dry.

B. Fabrication of The Mosites #10320 Intensifier

1. Rolls of the uncured fluorocarbon should be removed from refrigerated storage and allowed to warm to room temperature.
2. Cut the uncured sheet, using a pattern, to give a minimum of scrap. If multiple plies are necessary to achieve the desired thickness, the surface of the uncured sheet can be wiped with MEK or acetone to increase tack. This also allows seams or joints to be more readily adhered and positioned.
3. If prepreg reinforcement is desired, layers of carbon/epoxy or fiberglass/epoxy can be positioned during the lay-up procedure.
4. Since the product is compatible with epoxy resins, any surface that could possibly contact the resin system during a cure cycle must be protected with release film. (TFE or FEP). Several manufacturers supply release film that has been treated on one side for adhesion to rubber. This material bonds quite readily to Mosites #10320 with no further preparation.
5. Film bag the lay-up in standard fashion suing appropriate breather system and apply vacuum. The lay-up can be held under vacuum overnight to aid in compaction and forming if desired or it can be placed immediately into the autoclave for vulcanization.

C. Vulcanization of the Lay-Up

1. Cure the tool assembly for 1 hour at 350°F and at least 60 psi autoclave pressure. Thick sections may require longer vulcanization times. The schedule shown below should be followed.
   • Autoclave- Cure Mosites #10320 for 1 hour at 350°F for the first 1/8 inch of thickness. Cure an additional 5 minutes at 350°F for each extra 1/8 inch of thickness.
   • Oven- Cure the lay-up by ramping the oven temperature from 175 F to 350 F in increments of 25 F. Allow 1 hour at each temperature step. After completion of the cure time, allow the part to cool to room temperature before removal from the tool. Post cure as above, if necessary.
2. When the cure time has elapsed, allow the tooling to cool before removing the rubber
   part. It is now ready for use.