Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
(OP)
Good Morning All!
Which method is superior for carbon fiber Pre-Preg Compaction?
1. Pressure bladder against steel mold
or
2. Vacuum bag against steel mold
Note: The steel mold contains some fine details, I really need
the pre-preg to get forced into the corners.
Thanks!
Which method is superior for carbon fiber Pre-Preg Compaction?
1. Pressure bladder against steel mold
or
2. Vacuum bag against steel mold
Note: The steel mold contains some fine details, I really need
the pre-preg to get forced into the corners.
Thanks!





RE: Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
What pressure level with the bladder?
"Forcing" material into interior corners is often problematic and requires use of pressure intensifiers during cure.
"Better" (or "sufficient") is often highly dependent on the particular mold shape, material, cure temperature, etc; manufacturing process trials are highly recommended.
RE: Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
You need to explain your proposed method a little better.
Are you using pressure in a non autoclave use with direct heating of the mold?
A vacuum bag will only give you whatever the atmospheric pressure of the day is, if you can pull a full vacuum.
If you put the bagged product into an auto clave you can add whatever pressure the autoclave can produce. Somehow I do not think you are doing this.
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
Thanks for the questions...
This would be an autoclave heated mold application.
Consider (just for comparison) 150 psi pressure
vs bell jar levels of vacuum.
Just wondering which is more effective at compacting the pre-preg,
especially into square corners.
Thanks Again!
RE: Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
Compacting into "square corners"?? really? why? use a generous radii and greatly reduce your potential problems.
RE: Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: Pressure vs Vacuum Compaction
Thank You All For Your Answers.
Cheers!