Aluminum colored fiberglass for tubes

[jderimig]

Has anyone used aluminized fiberglass cloth for making body tubes? How did it work out? Look?

 

[DeeRoc29]

No but it sounds interesting. Where are you finding this cloth?

 

[dhbarr]

Texalium

 

[jderimig]

No but it sounds interesting. Where are you finding this cloth?

https://www.solarcomposites.com/NewSoller/Fiberglass.html#al

 

[CORZERO]

What would be the advantage/benefit/point?

 

[dhbarr]

Looks neat. I also have a hunch it would be more heat resistant.

 

[jderimig]

What would be the advantage/benefit/point?

Just looks. I would make the tube, wet sand, clear, wet sand, polish.

 

[rharshberger]

Looks neat. I also have a hunch it would be more heat resistant.

Heat resistance would be more a property of the epoxy I would think. The aluminum really isnt thick enough to do much, then again I am probably wrong.

 

[dhbarr]

Heat resistance would be more a property of the epoxy I would think. The aluminum really isnt thick enough to do much, then again I am probably wrong.

It shouldn't heat up as much in the sun ; and if the body tube isn't in direct contact with the motor casing, it should reject some IR. Probably not enough to matter, to your point.

 

[CORZERO]

Just looks. I would make the tube, wet sand, clear, wet sand, polish.

Sweet! Do it!

 

[ECayemberg]

Just looks. I would make the tube, wet sand, clear, wet sand, polish.

Hi John,

Haven't done any airframes with it, but did a Loc 7.67" to 5.54" transition in aluminized glass.

Fresh out of the mold: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?132173-Loc-Esoteric-amp-Top-Gunn-Dinosaur-builds!&p=1646449#post1646449

Sanded and polished a bit: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?132173-Loc-Esoteric-amp-Top-Gunn-Dinosaur-builds!&p=1676182#post1676182

It seemed a bit stiffer than standard E-glass, but I would think it would do just fine for a 3" dia and up airframe, especially if you use peel ply or similar on the outside to hold it all in place. Does look kinda neat!

 

[ksaves2]

Looks neat. I also have a hunch it would be more heat resistant.

Yeah and shield your electronics from stray Rf....... Oh, could be a problem if you put a tracker antenna inside and Rf doesn't get out!!
Time for a nosecone mounted tracker in a "pure" spiral wound glass nosecone then. Kurt

 

[jderimig]

Hi John,

Haven't done any airframes with it, but did a Loc 7.67" to 5.54" transition in aluminized glass.

Fresh out of the mold: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?132173-Loc-Esoteric-amp-Top-Gunn-Dinosaur-builds!&p=1646449#post1646449

Sanded and polished a bit: https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?132173-Loc-Esoteric-amp-Top-Gunn-Dinosaur-builds!&p=1676182#post1676182

It seemed a bit stiffer than standard E-glass, but I would think it would do just fine for a 3" dia and up airframe, especially if you use peel ply or similar on the outside to hold it all in place. Does look kinda neat!

Eric,

That looks awesome. Enough so that I will give it a try. I am making a 54mm MD rocket using a 4 ft motor case as a mandrel. First attempt for me making a tube. I did some test with 12" FG and CF I had laying around and it worked well.

 

[dhbarr]

Yeah and shield your electronics from stray Rf....... Oh, could be a problem if you put a tracker antenna inside and Rf doesn't get out!!
Time for a nosecone mounted tracker in a "pure" spiral wound glass nosecone then. Kurt

I would love to see someone do an R&D article comparing / contrasting paperboard, polystyrene, fiberglass, aluminizedFG, CF, aluminizedCF.

 

[ECayemberg]

Eric,

That looks awesome. Enough so that I will give it a try. I am making a 54mm MD rocket using a 4 ft motor case as a mandrel. First attempt for me making a tube. I did some test with 12" FG and CF I had laying around and it worked well.

Awesome! Good luck, John! Hope to see the results; they should be purrrrdy!