Corflute

Other Names:

Corflute, Coroplast, Fluteboard, Corboard, Printflute, Fluteboard. Similar material - Armaboard

Description:

Corrugated plastic or corriboard - also known under the tradenames of Coroplast, IntePro, Correx, Twinplast, Corriflute or Corflute - refers to a wide range of extruded twinwall plastic-sheet products produced from high-impact polypropylene resin with a similar make-up to corrugated fiberboard. It is a light-weight tough material which can easily be cut with a craft knife. Manufacturers typically offer a wide variety of colors and thicknesses.

A fluted,twin wall, polypropylene (plastic) sheet material which can be shaped using rotary cutters, scissors and saws. It can be joined using low and hot melt glue, click rivets, tapes or joints.

Advantages:

Strong for weight.

Disadvantages:

Hard to glue.

Handling:

Parkflyers NZ User's discussion

Round Corflute fuselage - how to do it.

Folding corflute - how to do it.

CUTTING:

Watch out if you are using a thin knife as the tip can be guided by the flutes despite it looking straight on the top layer. Also, if you can, always cut down the 'V' created by the flutes and the steel ruler when cutting across the flutes at an angle. This means switching between being left and right handed. If you do this the flutes will always push the knife against the ruler. When you cut up the 'V' the flutes will try to drag the knife away from the ruler. It's a good idea to use a heavier knife and do 3-4 gentle passes to ensure a square cut.

GLUES:

- 3M Super 90 for Polycarb to Coro on side-to-side joins (was available at Bunnings ~$14)

- Locktite 406 (much better than HK CA)

- 3M Super90 with 770 primer

TIP: A rag soaked in Mineral Turpentine removes cured S90 with a bit of rubbing. Rag needs to be wet with turps to dissolve the S90. Do not leave turps soaking in the flutes overnight as that will cause distortion.

Using polycarbonate spars with it -

- HK rubberised CA for the polycarb to polycarb (bonds well).

Gluing suggestions discussion forum.

SURFACE PREPARATION:

Warning - be careful if using this technique, there are risks if not done property, but flame treating the plastic is one of the best ways to promote adhesion. You need a blue flame as from an LPG torch, and it needs to be passed over the plastic surface quickly enough so as not to melt the plastic. One way of testing is to test on your arm, the flame needs to be passed over fast enough to frizzle the hairs but certainly not burn. Once you get it right you can achieve a strong glue bond with CA or PU glues, much stronger than solvent wiping or surface primers will give you.

Obviously do it outside, keep a bucket of water handy, etc. Google "flame treating polypropylene" if you want to know more.

Discussion Forums:

Simple Plastic Airplane Design SPAD Simple Airplane Design

RCGroups forum on Coroflute SPADs

SPAD specific forum

RCUniverse SPAD forum

Suppliers:

Mitre Mega 10 - 900 mm x 600 mm x 3.4 mm $9.15 per sheet.

Corflute Signs 900 mm x 600 mm x 3 mm $7.91+GST They have a range of sizes and thicknesses. Royal Oak, Aukland.

PSP

Office Buy Royal Oak, Auckland. 2mm coreflute