Re-usable silicone bags are bringing major production
benefits in vacuum moulding composites. The process is much faster, cheaper and
greener than the traditional methods widely used in aerospace, automotive and
marine composite moulding.
The silicone bags are more resistant to heat and
chemical attack from resins, the process is non-hazardous and has no odour and
the bags can be used over and over again with a comparatively long shelf life.
It has been estimated that the new process is already saving up to 90% of
labour costs.
The bags are created by either spraying or brushing
the special silicone onto a composite profile already sitting inside the mould.
Once it has cured, the bag is simply peeled away and stored ready for use in
the vacuum process.
Vacuum bagging is a technique that creates mechanical
pressure onto a laminate during its cure cycle – removing trapped air between
layers, compacting and strengthening fibre layers, reducing humidity and
optimising the fibre-to-resin ratio in the composite part. Composite mouldings
produced by the process have a very high strength to weight ratio.
To find out more about our vacuum bagging process
contact us on
+44 (0)1562 515121
or email:
info@bentleychemicals.co.uk
