Kevlar Bodywork - Y Not?

[Lowe119]

Why can we get fiberglass and carbon fiber bodywork(even with Kevlar reinforced mounting points), but no pieces are made totally from Kevlar?

Kevlar is impact resistant, abrasion resistant, lightweight, and flexible. Am I missing a property that makes it undesirable for bodywork?

[cstem]

I am probably mistaken, as there is always new tech out there but, Kevlar is very flexible and I would think to get it to not deform or flap at high speed would take extra resin to harden it (there goes the flexy and light benefit) or layer it with CF which also defeats the purpose.  Just my idea.

[LMsports]

We have sold carbon fiber/kevlar mixed bodywork before. I even ran a set on an RC51 I raced a couple of years ago. It actually appears sort of a green color with it all mixed in like that.

[Spooner]

Sebimoto makes a carbon/kevlar set.  We have them for our TLR, but we use the sharkskinz because they fit a lot better..

-Nick

[LMsports]

The sebimoto is what I used on my RC. I didn't have any fitment problems necessarily but they weren't as flexible as our Armour Bodies. Armour, GP composites, and Sharkskinz make the best bodywork out there right now hands down.

[spyderchick]

Sharkskins have the added benefit of "crashing" really well. They might get roughed up, but they're easily repaired with a fiberglass kit. Some other body work will "shatter",  making repairs more difficult.

[Nate R]

Am I missing a property that makes it undesirable for bodywork?

$. It's very expensive, and more difficult to work with in large sizes than carbon or glass

[cardzilla]

Mo' money, Mo' money, Mo' money

[james-redsv]

Kevlar by itself is not very good at all for body panals.You have to have special tools to cut it but the main problem with it is the resins wont saturate down into the fibers very well. Then when its sanded and top layer of resin is sanded off you get a fuzzy mess. The resins just lay on top of it so it tends to delam where it is pieced together too. Carbon kevlar blends work much better and that is why the blends are widely used. ;D

[Lowe119]

Thanks. I heard that Kevlar turns into dust when sanded and that makes it hard to repair. So that would kind of go along with what you were saying.

I was just looking at my Kevlar canoe and wondered why it works so well in that application, but not ours.

[Nate R]

Ahh, yes the fuzzies.REAL Pita to get rid of if you have to trim a piece of Kevlar. Even Carbon/Kevlar can be a PITA with this sometimes.  >:(

[spyderchick]

Ahh, yes the fuzzies.REAL Pita to get rid of if you have to trim a piece of Kevlar. Even Carbon/Kevlar can be a PITA with this sometimes.  >:(

MMmmmmm pitas.... ;D