Furan resins and their curing agents are very corrosive due to the content of water (resin) and the acidity of the curing agent. Moulds and tools need to be built in a non-corrosive material.
Suitable curing and post curing cycles are necessary to achieve good properties (mechanical and reaction to fire).
Although some curing problems appeared during vacuum infusion, this processing method should not be rejected. The problems seem to be a sizing matter of the fibres rather than a material issue.
During the furan resin handling and its curing process, the product emits gases and smell. Even though the majority is water, it is recommended to use the same precautions as in other thermosetting resins (polyester, epoxy, phenolic).
Protective precautions must be also taken into account during machining of material because the particles emitted are usually very sharp. Proper protective clothing and ventilation are recommended.
The best and cheapest way to manufacture products such as sandwich panels, would be the use of a glass fibre reinforced furan pre-preg pressed into a heated tool. The investment is really high (approx. 600.000-900.000€) but, on a large scale production, the investment will be paid off in a fairly short time. The quality of the products would be much higher compared to hand lay-up process.
