Application Book: Heating Solutions for All Industries | Page 79
COMPOSITE CURING
TOOL/MOLD HEATING AND HOT DEBULKING
An efficient way to heat tool molds prior to working with pre-preg composite fiber reinforced materials
Application
Tool molds are commonly used in the manufacturing industry to form and shape
composite cloth materials into usable finished products. The composite cloth materials
used (typically carbon fiber or fiberglass) are preferred because of their high strength
and lightweight properties. Composite materials are a two-part system that consists
of a cloth fiber material and an epoxy resin. The epoxy resin bonds the cloth layers
together and through a curing process, forms a strong and lightweight product. The
term “pre-preg” is used to identify cloth materials that are pre-pregnated or pre-
saturated with a resin. They are preferred over typical wet lay-ups because they provide
less mess, less waste, faster cure time, better part uniformity, and better appearance.
However, these pre-preg cloth materials can be challenging to fit into the sometimes
complex shapes and contours of a mold. Preheating the mold to approximately 120°F
(49°C) softens the pre-preg cloth material as it is hand laid into the mold. The heat
makes the cloth more malleable and easier to work along the sometimes complex
geometries of the mold.
Solution
Preheat the mold using a high-temperature BriskHeat fiberglass heating blanket. These
heating blankets are a safer, more efficient, and less time consuming alternative to
traditional heat lamps. BriskHeat fiberglass heating blankets can be custom designed
to a specific size or shape and the built-in insulation of the heater provides minimal
heat-loss for energy efficiency and a safe-to-touch surface. Additional benefits include
reusability, exceptional heat uniformity up to 1100°F (593°C), and durability for long
service life, making them a cost effective solution for preheating molds.
FGH Fiberglass heating blankets can be designed using a variety of temperature
controlling options depending on the requirements of the applications. Options
range from simple on/off temperature sensing to highly sophisticated ramp/soak
programs. Some of these options include using a built-in preset thermostat, a variable
temperature adjustable thermostat, a programmable digital PID controller, or even a
BriskHeat ACR ® Hot Bonder.
Hot Debulking
Hot debulking is a process where multiple layers of composite cloth and resin
materials are assembled together into a layup and a vacuum is applied to remove
unwanted air and voids within the layup. A variety of BriskHeat heater options can
be used to elevate the temperature of the layup to approximately 120°F (49°C).
Heat allows the materials to compress easier and limits the amount of voids in the
layup to ensure a stronger, more reliable cure.
Industries
Aviation/Aerospace
Composite Curing
Manufacturing
Pressure Vessels
Racing
Sporting Goods
U.S. Military
Types of Users
Engineers
Fabricators
Production Managers
Technicians
Toll Free: 800-848-7673 | Phone: 614-294-3376 | BriskHeat.com | Email: [email protected] | Fax: 614-294-3807
© BriskHeat Corporation. All Rights Reserved. 20-01
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