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14 Jan 2008  - 

Innovative multilayer system for vacuum moulding

VACUOPEEL™ is a multilayer system (without adhesive) used in manufacturing processes for vacuum moulding of composite materials with techniques such as prepreg, wet lay-up, and thermoplastic.

Vacuum moulding of composite materials involves using a number of vacuum consumables that have an effect on the fabrication and quality.

Some of these are used in successive layers, such as peel ply, perforated film, breather felt, and vacuum-bagging film. Standard procedures involve applying each one separately (e.g., peel ply, perforated film, breather felt), which can be difficult, especially when moulding is done against a vertical mould. This type of procedure can result in overlapping on very large parts, or even the omission of a layer. Overlapping can cause deformation on thin parts, creating weak areas, or it can affect the porosity of subsequent layers. Omissions can have dramatic consequences on the moulded part's final properties.
The first solution to these problems was created by Diatex in 1991 in the form of VACUOPLEX™, a multilayer system to be laid down on one side of the resin-saturated part or preform. The system combines the three above mentioned vacuum consumables into a three-layer unit: the peel ply layer on the bottom, adhering directly to the preform; the perforated film, permeable to resin and gases, as the next layer; and the breather/bleeder felt on top. This easy-to-use solution has eliminated the risk of overlap or of omitted layer.
However, the same advantages that make the system so easy to apply have resulted in inconvenient removal. Because the system is applied in a single piece, it comes off in a single piece. In other words, when you try to remove it, you remove the breather felt, perforated film, and peel ply all together. But to protect a part, it can be useful to leave the peel ply on until later - for example, just before assembly, painting, or some other operation. If you only want to remove the breather felt, you have a peeling problem with VACUOPLEX™. As it turns out, most users would like to leave the peel ply on after vacuum moulding. To satisfy this wish, Diatex has developed VACUOPLEX™ even further and now offers VACUOPEEL™.

VACUOPEEL™ is a “smart complex” which gives many benefits to the producers : save time, improve the composites quality, one product to buy instead of 3, one product to apply instead of 3.

VACUOPEEL™ that you can remove the VACUOPEEL™ in 2 times after the curing process :
1. you remove the bleeder which includes the perforated film.
2. you remove the peel ply at you convenience.

 

Source : Diatex