Good information about post-curing.  Check the heat distortion temperature for 
the foam board that you're using if you decide to post-cure.  Some of the 
molded polystyrene boards (such as pink Owens-Corning Foamular; blue Dow 
Styrofoam) have heat distortion temperatures in the 100-105C range (210-220F), 
but others may be lower.  If the foam substrate gets into those temperatures, 
you could find that the piece that you're post-curing may take on some 
permanent distortion.

This topic has come up over the years when discussing the use of less 
reflective, generally darker paint colors on composite airplanes with a foam 
substrate... like the KR.  A darker airplane parked out in the sun can develop 
temperatures in the foam that can exceed the distortion temperature, which is 
one of the reasons that KRs have traditionally had white or light colored paint 
jobs.  Not saying that it will melt like Icarus' wings, but it could result in 
a droop, twist, or other distortion.

The urethane foams (such as Last-A-Foam) have much higher distortion 
temperatures than polystyrene board.

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR 

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