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HP-RTM Solutions for the Market Leaders
The manufacture of Carbon Composite parts for Automotive applications relies more and more on Cannon wet and dry equipment , for both Epoxy- and Polyurethane-based formulations .
HIGH PRESSURE RESIN TRANSFER MOULDING ( HP-RTM ) IS THE MASS PRODUCTION VERSION OF THE CONVENTIONAL RTM ( RESIN TRANSFER MOULDING ) PROCESS AND MAKES USE OF FAST CURING CHEMICALS . T H E P R O C E S S C O N S I S T S I N T H E IMPREGNATION OF A PREFORM WITH A MATRIX THAT IS MIXED THROUGH A MIXING HEAD CONNECTED TO THE MOULD .
The impregnation and moulding stage is the heart of HP-RTM technology . A Carbon fibre preform is loaded into the moulding press and a high pressure injection of liquid matrix takes place . In order to exploit the fast reactivity of the new generation chemicals , the components of the formulation are kept separated and are mixed on demand , when the part needs to be injected . Being the reaction time very short , the viscosity of the chemical grows significantly within the injection window . This results in a very severe pressure rise into the mould ( this phenomenon gives the name to the process ). Typical values in the industry go from 50 to 120 bar . The mixing and subsequent injection of the matrix is performed through a dedicated dosing and injection unit . The unit is designed to bring the chemicals at the required temperature while guaranteeing a proper degassing and to dose at the correct flow and mixing ratio of the components . The machine is equipped with jacketed tanks , diathermic oil thermoregulator and heat exchangers that can bring the components up to 100 ° C . The tanks are equipped with dedicated vacuum degassing systems to degas the chemicals to avoid the formation of holes and voids in the final cured part . The heart of the technology is the mixing head . Inside the mixing head the pressure energy that has been generated with the metering pumps is converted into kinetic energy through dedicated injectors . The injectors ' nozzles are placed into a mixing chamber where two or more streams of chemicals are collided one against the other . The collision generates a very severe turbulence that guarantees a proper mixing .
A Cannon E-System in Germany A major German car manufacturer has equipped their development laboratory with a new Cannon E-System 5 Enhanced , the latest Cannon dosing unit specifically designed for HP-RTM technology . The threecomponent machine will be used to develop their next generation of Epoxy-based Composite parts . Their work on Composites generated a number of technological developments that have greatly influenced the design and the efficiency of modern passenger vehicles . In 2015 a project for a new dosing unit for laboratory use was started , specifying a number of innovative technical features . A bid was launched among the most qualified competitors , Cannon Afros quoted accordingly and , thanks to a proposal that was both technically compliant and valuable , won the contract . The machine supplied is an E-System 5 Enhanced with 70-litre stainless steel tanks and circuits for resin and hardener . The unit can meter from 15 to 140 g / s of a three-component formulation at typical process mixing ratios . The whole metering section for the resin is enclosed in a heated and thermally insulated box , allowing to work with a constant
The E-System highpressure dosing unit is available in different configurations .
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