Fred,
I would be the last to question your experiments (I am only a Secondary
Modern Brat). However, I did hear that the RAF Slingsby Firefly suffered
some heat damage to its carbon composite wing when the military decided to
paint the aircraft black for conspicuity. Furthermore, all the worlds major
composite sailplane manufacturers seem to produce their aircraft in white
and even the advice in the Europa manual is/was to keep away from dark
colours. "Much more than the sun can ever do" - don't know about that, I
can still recall watching an egg fry on the apron in Arizona. My aircraft
is white and it is staying that way but hey, -- if that is what you want ,
go for it.
regards,
MP
> >
>
> I'd think that UV degradation over time would be the biggest factor.
> Ignoring whatever UV inhibitors may be in the plexiglass, indoor
> storage and/or cabin cover should mitigate that for more years the
> acrylic will last.. The softening point of fully cured Redux is very
> high, much more than what the sun can ever do, something which can be
> tested. Looks like worst possible case about 155F deg., as the bronze
> acrylic appears to cut it back around 10F. At least, that's what my
> infrared temp gun implied on a warm day, extrapolated to mid-90's OAT.
>
> Redux at 200F I found yields under the point of an awl, if pressed
> hard, but a test sample could not be pulled apart any easier in
> peeling stress at that temp. Nice to know what holds half the plane
> together "ain't chopped liver," as they say!
>
> Reg,
> Fred F.
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