W_13: Composites (Apr 22)
For the composites week I decided to make a sculpture by hand and made a model of a streched face out of high density foam.
FACE MODEL
To make the composite I used burlap fibers and 2 part epoxy resin. To compress the fibers against the model i used the air suction table that they have at our lab its about 1.2m by 2m and it has a flexible membrane on the top that folds over whatever you put in it. To make the actual composite we put different layers of plastic to not compromise the machine. First a layer of thin plastic then another layer of a special plastic with small holes so the air can escape secondly after this i layed the model with the applied resin/burlap. On top of this goes another layer of perforated plastic and after another layer of normal plastic to keep it from leaking and sticking every where.
Spreading the resin over the two burlap layers
You lay the different layers of plastic on the machine bed and ontop you put the mold with the burlap ontop and finally the two layers of plastic.
Finally you close the machine and turn on the suction
RESULT
POLISHED RESULT
