LIQUID MOLDING PROCESSES

Resin Fiber Other Include Items Reception

Reception/Storage Reception/Storage

Resin Mixing Preform Assembly

Mold Assembly Closure Mold Preparation

Infusion

Cure

Demolding
Typical LRM Mold Options
 Material Used by the LRM process
Resin
Resin Materials

Tackifier

Reinforcement
Carbon Fibers (Textile fabrics, Braided Strucure, non crimp fabrics)
Materials

Assembled Materials Various layers have been assembled preform material

Consumable &
ancillary materials Mold release agents, adhesives, bagging film, release films,flow media,
damming materials, vacum bag films, vacum bag sealant, breather
materials, porous tube and tapes
Resin Material Procurement Spesification
Resin Property Test Method
Density ASTM D 1475
Viscosity (Brookfield) ASTM D 2196
Viscosity (Cure Behavior) ASTM D 4473
Gel Time ASTM D 1824
Cure Kinetics ASTM D 3418
Color ASTM D 1544
Exopide Equivalent Weight ASTM D 1652
Amine Content Any agreed Method
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography Any agreed Method
Spectrophotometry (IR) Any agreed Method

Recommended Set of Neat Resin Physical and Chemical

Properties
 Resin Material Procurement Spesification
Property Test Method Property Test Method
Tensile Properties Shear Strength ASTM D732
Strength
ASTM D638 Fracture Toughness ASTM D5045
Modulus
Elongation Glass Transition Temperature ASTM D1545
Flexural Properties Coefficient of Thermal
Expansion ASTM E 831
Sterngth
ASTM D790
Modulus Degradation Temperature ASTM 3850
ELongation Density ASTM D792
Compressive Properties
Water Absorption ASTM D570
Strength ASTM 695
Modulus Shrinkage ASTM D 2566

Recommended Set of Cured Resin Physical and Mechanical Properties

Recommended Set of Carbon Fiber
Properties
Fiber Property Test Condition Test Method

Form N/A ASTM E1309

Tow Twist N/A Any agreed method

Tow size content N/A ASTM D4018

Tow tensile modulus RTD ASTM D4018

Tow tensile strength RTD ASTM D4018

Fiber density RTD ASTM D3800

Recommended Set of Fabric Properties
Fabric Property Test Condition Test Method

Width RTD ASTM D 3774

Tracer Spacing RTD Any agreed method

Alignment RTD Any agreed method

Waviness RTD Any agreed method

Openness RTD Any agreed method

Yarn count/inch RTD Any agreed method

Areal weight (g/𝑚2 ) RTD ASTM D 3776

Recommended Fabric Defects & Allowable Limits
Subject
Gaps and alignment
Single yarn defects
Continuous defects
Tow Splices
Single and Continous defects
Defect Allowable Limit
a. Warp yarn deviation from a 0.18 inch wide by 3 feet long max
straight line
b. Fill deviation from a straight 1. 2.0 inches over width of roll max
line 2. 1.0 inch in any 21-inch width of roll
Broken filaments, fiber Defects shall not be greater than three over a
distortions, fuzz balls, and distance of 6 lineal feet
wrinkles
Multiplicity of defects; e.g., Defects separated by at least 3 lineal feet of
two or more single yarn each other, excluding selvage.
defects closer than 6 inches,
excess binder, binder gaps,
blisters, and foreign materials.
Spliced on adjacent tows None
within 0.5 inch of each other
All 10 Percent of roll length max
Requirement Section of a Process Specification

Recommended Personel Selection Factors

1. Experience
2. Inspection personnel, ratio to manufacturing personnel
3. Level of training
4. Personnel status identified (qualified or unqualified)
Requirement Section of a Process Specification

Out-Time
Handling Life Staging Life
(function of (function of
Storage Life factory
(Function of factory
environment) environment)
storage
temperature)

Date of Out of End of Prepreg Laid-up Part

Manufacture Storage Storage on a Tool or Mold Cure
(Impregnation) Life

Recommended Definitions of Storage Life, Handling Life, Staging Life, and Out-Time
Requirement Section of a Process Specification

The Required Equipment Section

1. List All Equipment which needed to preform the fabrication
2. Sources for the equipment should als be listed
3. Calibration and certification requirements
 Recommended Preform Room Requirement Checklist
1. Limit access by other equipment (gas-powered fork lifts)
2. Limit access by non-lay-up personnel
3. Airflow through the room
4. Equipment for monitoring environmental control
5. No contamination by other processes (chemical processing, painting,
and sanding)
6. Treatments and cleanlines of floors
7. Humidity (minimum and maximum)
8. Temperature (minimum and maximum)
9. Isolation from other contaminates
10. Lay-up area status (approved and unapproved)
11. Lighting (lumens)
12. Particulate count
 Recommended Preform Room Requirement Checklist
13. Particulate count
14. Pressure (positive)
15. Proximity to molding
16. Hose status (approved and unapproved)
17. Treatment and clealiness of walls
18. Use of rubber gloves by personnel handling fabric or resin is
recommended for the safety of employee and to prevent possible
contamination of the materials
 Recommend Tooling Control Checklist
1. Method of Cleaning, Solvents, Cleaning cloths,
2. Mold Release agents
3. Tool heat survey results
4. Scribe marking
5. Template Inspection intervals
6. Template surface conditions
7. Template Material
8. Templates, number of
9. Tool heat-up rate
10. Tool surface conditions
11. Tool, method of moving, transportation
12. Tooling condition (mold release applied, and no mold release)
 Recommend Tooling Control Checklist
13. Tooling Configuration (flat and Vertical)
14. Tooling status identified (approved and unapproved)
15. Tooling storage condition and locations
16. Tooling, expansion and concraction rate
17. Tooling material
18. Location and Number of vacuum ports.
19. Orientation rosette
20. Tool repair procedures
21. Tool inspection intervals
22. Tool (molding cavity) vacuum leak rate (must be measured at
temperature)