What Is Carbon Fiber and Why Is It Great for Repairs? An Overview
Every manufacturer’s worst nightmare is equipment breaking. It cuts down on productivity when you have to shut down and wait for repairs.
There’s now a way around this. Composite material makes it possible to fix broken equipment without losing production time.
Continue reading to learn about composite material repairs.
What is Composite Repair?
Most industries use composite repairs for basic maintenance and as a temporary fix. It’s used mainly on pipelines, pressure vessels, and other industrial assets.
Using composite materials is common. This is because these types of repairs don’t usually require the equipment to shut down.
The material is also very versatile. By using different composites, repairs are easier than before. Repair companies design unique composites based on the type of repair, environment, and material needed.
The Types of Composite Repairs
Outside of pipeline repairs, composite processes are common in aerospace, automotive, tank repairs, and other manufacturing industries.
These are a few of the most common repairs and what to expect.
Bonded Repair
Many composite assets on aircraft require bonded repairs. This repair type starts with tapering the area around the damaged section. This prepares the area for the composite patch.
Bolted Repair
A general rule of thumb when deciding between bolted or bonded repairs is to go by thickness. For the best repairs, you have to use the right technique.
Bolted repairs are usually best for thicker structures. Bonded work best with thin. Thickness refers to the original size of the laminate. This isn’t counting the core materials.
It’s also worth noting that what’s best varies based on what you need the asset for. Sometimes you need the material to be strong. Other times you need it to be lighter. There are also times when cheap and fast is best.
Cosmetic Repair
Sometimes the repairs needed are more for surface reasons than functional ones. A composite repair works very well in this situation.
The composite materials used will not be as strong as the original material. Keep in mind, this is most often used as a temporary fix and when the strength of the asset is unimportant.
The material shrinks quickly and will start to crack in a certain amount of time. Because of this, more permanent repairs will be necessary.
Other Repairs
Resin injections, patch jobs, and countless other repairs can be made using composite repair procedures.
Composite repairs are useful but not flawless. The material is heavier and weaker than the earlier product. This means that they don’t last as long as the original material and you cannot rely on them indefinitely.
This repair type is best utilized for temporary repairs, not permanent fixes.
Get Your Composite Material Repair Now
Composite repairs are perfect for temporary fixes. They save you time compared to traditional methods. You can choose when the best time to shut down for full repairs and work with your equipment in the meantime.
It used to be considered only as a last resort. Because of recent breakthroughs, these repair types are becoming much more common. Contact us for composite material repairs.
