POST-CURING
Post-Curing is a cooking of composite materials, according to a precise temperature profile, which accelerates the maturation and cross-linking process of the resin. This operation is performed, if requested, in order to achieve maximum mechanical performance in the shortest possible time.
Composite materials are defined as “alive” because they continue to mature and “move” throughout the life of the component. Such movements can lead to defects and aesthetic distortions that are obviously not welcome. The post-curing process serves to limit this effect and stabilize the product.
Depending on the types of processing and materials used, the cooking cycles must be defined. If carbon or aramid fibers are processed in pre-preg, temperatures must reach 130° to lead to complete cross-linking, while in the case of vinylester resins, lower temperatures of between 85° – 90° will suffice. Along with temperature, a factor to take into account is the holding time: the lower the temperatures, the longer it will take to achieve the objective. In the case of boats produced at Yacht Design, the holding time at temperature typically varies between 6 and 8 hours.