VACUUM BAG MOLDING
Vacuum bag molding, a refinement of hand lay-up, uses a
vacuum to eliminate entrapped air and excess resin. After
the lay-up is fabricated on either a male or female mold
from precut plies of glass mat or fabric and resin, a
nonadhering film of polyvinyl alcohol or nylon is placed
over the lay-up and sealed at the mold flange. A vacuum
is drawn on the bag formed by the film while the
composite is cured at room or elevated temperatures.
Compared to hand lay-up, the vacuum method provides
higher reinforcement concentrations, better adhesion
between layers, and more control over resin/glass ratios.
Advanced composite parts utilize this method with
preimpregnated fabrics rather than wet lay-up materials
and require oven or autoclave cures.
Photos from recent seminars on the subject of vacuum
bag molding:
01, 02, 69
CT Processes | Participants | Links
Web Author: Terry Price (tprice@cerritos.edu)
Disclaimer
Last update: 11/14/01 |
