Flow Modification Process for Vacuum Infusion Using Port-Based Resin Flow Control

摘要

A port based injection approach to resin flow enhancement and control coined as Vacuum Induced Preform Relaxation (VIPR) process is investigated and compared with other vacuum infusion processes. The novelty of the process is the combined use of an actively controlled rigid vacuum chamber with a series of spatially distributed injection ports. The VIPR chamber is placed over the vacuum bag directly above the injection ports machined into the tooling surface of the mold. By regulating the vacuum pressure inside the VIPR chamber one can manipulate the resin flow from the corresponding injection port The time to fill with the VIPR process is compared with other Liquid Molding processes such as VARTM and SCRIMP. Ability to control the resin flow with this process provides the opportunity to ensure complete filling and automate the manufacturing of parts.