Brian, thanks for your comment.
I am not aware of any negative influence that a fully cured structure can
provide.
Post-curing of most Europa builds will occur in-service, hot days and heat soak
can reach surface temperatures easily exceeding 55C. Prolonged exposure would
compensate for the lack of higher temperatures, eventually. Hence most Europa
will achieve something close to full strength over time. But that is hardly
a controlled process.
Due to the adoption of generous CSF our Europa aircraft are designed to load
levels
rarely, if ever, encountered in service. Crashworthiness aside, the Europa
is somewhat over-engineered.
Given that temperature exposure up to and beyond the Tg is not desireable, as
chemical
changes occur. Core temperature range is often cited as a limitation.
However, aircraft materials should have the ability to work from -30C to +80C
without degradation. Otherwise operational limitations will apply.
It's a bit like having a car paint job and driving off before the paint has
fully
cured. Why would you? Sure, the paint will cure eventually, but in the
meantime
it is soft and will incur scratches and other damages. Maybe an imperfect
comparison but hopefully you see what l am talking about.
The tub to lower shell joint, top to bottle shells and wing pin reaction
locations
all need to achieve full strength. Post-curing to the manufacturer's process
instructions is therefore my recommendation.
--------
John Wighton
Europa XS trigear G-IPOD
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