VACUUM BAGGING TECHNIQUE AND COMPRESSION MOULDING TECHNIQUE

NAME: N.K.NAGARAJAN ROLL NO: 11 MT66 ASSIGNMENT PRESENTATION I

WHAT IS VACUUM BAGGING ?

Vacuum bagging (or vacuum bag laminating) is a clamping method that uses the atmospheric pressure to hold the adhesive or resin coated components of a lamination in place until the adhesive cures

Vacuum Bagging Advantages

Even clamping pressure Control of resin content Custom shapes Efficient laminating

Vacuum bagging
Vacuum bagging is the modification of handlayup Lay-up(necessarily smaller) is completed and placed inside a bag made of flexible film and all the edges are sealed. Then the bag is then evacuated so that the pressure eliminates voids in laminate, forcing excess air and resin from the mould.

Steps in vacuum bagging process

Lay-up Preparation of bleeder system Baggaging operation

Requirements for proper bagging

Bag to be impervious to air pressure Bag to uniformly apply cure pressure The bag used in this method had two fold advantages. 1. It provides a means for removing volatile products during cure 2. It provides a means for application of pressure of one atom which is adequate for some materials.

Vacuum bagging materials

Release fabric Perforated film Breather material Vacuum bag Mastic sealant Plumbing system Mold release

Release fabric 1. Smooth woven fabric it should not bond to epoxy resin. 2. Used to separate breather and laminate 3. Excess epoxy can wick through release fabric

Perforated film
Used in conjunction with release fabric This film helps to hold the resin in laminate, when high vacuum pressure is used with slow curing resin system (or) thin laminates

Breather material
(or) bleeder cloth Allows air from all parts of the envelope to be drawn to a port (or) manifold by providing slight air space between the bag and laminate

Vacuum bag
If vacuum bag pressure less than 5 psi at room temperature 6 mil polyethylene can be used. Clear plastic material is preferred as compared to opaque for easy inspection Specially manufactured vacuum bag can be used for high pressure and temperature applications. It should always larger than mould

Mastic sealant
To provide continous air tight between bag and mould. Also used to seal the point where the manifold enters the bag and to repair leaks in the bag.

Plumbing system
Provides an air tight passage from vacuum envelope to vacuum pump allowing pump to remove air A basic system consists of flexible (or) rigid hose pipe, a trap, a port that connects pipe to the envelope. Vacuum guage is necessary to monitor the level

Mold release
Necessary to prevent epoxy from sticking

Vacuum Bag moulding Advantages

-as for hand lamination, except 1. Higher fibre volume fraction 2. Lower void contents 3. Heavier fabrics can be wet out 4. Improved mechanical properties due to higher fibre volume fraction 5. Volatile organic compounds are largely contained during the curing stage

Vacuum Bag moulding Advantages

6. The additional consolidation pressure can help the reinforcement to conform to tight curvatures.

Vacuum Bag Moulding Disadvantages

Higher labour skills for the bagging stage Low production rates due to bagging stage Joining bagging film for large items Mould tool must be vacuum tight Cost of consumables and equipment Consumable material compatible with resin Consolidation pressure limited to 1 atm

Applications
Widely used in high performance mouldings such as for aerospace applications.

Compression Moulding
It is a process whereby a stack of preimpregnated layers are compressed betweeen a set matched dies using a powerful press, and then cured while under compression.

Applications
This method is often used to manufacture small quantities of high quality components such as crash helmets and biccycle frames. Due to the use of matched dies, the dimensional tolerances and mechanical properties of finished components are extremely consistent.

Compression moulding
However, the requirement to trim the component after curing and the need for a large press means that this method is extremely expensive. Also, it is very difficult to make components where the plies drop off consistently within the component.