Principle and Process of Vacuum Infusion of Composite Materials

 

 

Composite vacuum infusion process, referred to as VIP, is an advanced manufacturing technology widely used in aerospace, automobile manufacturing, construction engineering and other fields. This process uses a vacuum environment to fully infiltrate the fiber with resin, avoiding defects such as air holes and twist knots, thereby improving the quality of the product. This article will introduce the principle and process of composite vacuum infusion process in detail.

 

Principle of Composite Vacuum Infusion Process.

 

The basic principle of composite vacuum infusion process is to lay reinforcing materials (such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, sandwich material, etc.) on the mold, then lay a vacuum bag, and extract the air in the system to form a negative pressure in the mold cavity. Then, using the pressure generated by the vacuum, the unsaturated resin is pressed into the fiber stack through the pre-laid pipeline, so that the resin fully infiltrates the reinforcing material and finally fills the entire mold. After the product is cured, the vacuum bag material is removed and the desired product is obtained from the mold.

 

 

 

The main function of this process is to avoid defects such as pores and looseness in the molded products. The vacuum environment can ensure that the resin removes the air when it infiltrates the fiber, so that the resin and the fiber are closely combined, and the compactness and performance of the product are improved. In addition, this process can also improve the automation level of the product, reduce labor costs, and improve production efficiency and product quality.

 

Composite Material Vacuum Introduction Process Flow

 

Preparation Stage

 

First, select a suitable mold according to the shape and size of the product. The mold should have sufficient strength and rigidity to ensure that it does not deform during the vacuum introduction process. Then, clean the mold and remove impurities such as oil and dust on the surface to ensure good contact between the resin and the mold.

 

Laying Reinforcement Materials

Lay reinforcement materials such as glass fiber and carbon fiber on the mold. The selection of reinforcement materials should be determined according to the performance requirements and use environment of the product. When laying, pay attention to the number of layers of reinforcement materials and the arrangement of materials. Vacuum to ensure the bag product, and the mechanical vacuum performance and bag stability. Seal the mold on all sides. The function of laying the vacuum bag is to form a closed space so that the resin can fully infiltrate the reinforcement material when it is introduced.

 

 

Extract Air and Form Negative Pressure

The air in the vacuum bag is extracted through a vacuum pump or other equipment to form a negative pressure in the mold cavity. The size of the negative pressure should be determined based on factors such as the shape and size of the product and the viscosity of the resin.