Powdercoating Carbon

Hey, i'm just about to take a trip to armourtex this week for a frame respray. I have a pair of carbon forks that want to come with me. Anyone know if carbon is ok to get powdercoated?

ta

It is a pity Armourtex don't own a telephone, otherwise you could have simply asked them.

;P

The answer is unfortunately 'no', Armourtex won't (can't) powdercoat carbon, although it is possible to have it done elsewhere, it is rather specialized, costs a little more and there is no guarantee that your forks won't be negatively affected - (you will usually have to sign something to the effect of: I understand my forks may be damaged).

It has a lot to do with having to bake the powdercoated item at a couple of hundred degrees and carbon delaminating.

Carbon forks can be re-sprayed to a very high quality finish fairly easily.

does anyone know at what temp the resin melts on carbon fibre then ?
and then what temp you need to do the powder coat ?

as far as I know you cant powdercoat Carbon fibre, you have to charge the metal you want to powdercoat then bake it, but there are people with painted forks. Theres a grey haired fella on a pink Condor I was talking to he got his painted through Condor, Im sure Armourtex will advise you best.

not sure about epoxy but you have to bake thing to be powdered coated twice i think at 300 and 500 F

Mercian list it as an option in their renovation page but also say it's at your own risk :S

Chris

why do you keep saying my name

Because i am you!

ahhh shit... well will you ring the home office for me (us?) and see if I (we) can come back yet

pilky does anyone know at what temp the resin melts on carbon fibre then ?
and then what temp you need to do the powder coat ?

It's going to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and I doubt you'd be able to find out without going as far as melting some forks. But it's probably not a good idea to even warm them up anyway. Even though they might not fully melt, but enough of the bonds inside the molecules of resin could break and then reform in a way that could be structurally weakening.

I wouldn't.

chris crash ahhh shit... well will you ring the home office for me (us?) and see if I (we) can come back yet

They said not yet, maybe in a month...try in a month.

;)

oh no, i believe armourtex do own a telephone, sadly i lost my mouth :( Thanks everyone for all the help!

powder coating carbon fiber is a big no no...the paint is corrosive.

an even better reason then not to