Scribd
Upload
101 views4 pages

Practical Work - Manufacturing of Laminates.: 7.1 Steps Involved in VARTM Process

The document describes manufacturing laminates using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). Glass fiber layers were used to create laminates that will undergo future testing. 5 layers of glass fiber weighing 40.5 grams were used with dimensions of 20x20cm. The VARTM process involves preparing the mold and fabric layup, resin and vacuum lines, vacuum bag, resin infusion, and testing. Initial layers had issues with leaks and non-uniform resin distribution but these were addressed by improving the fabric layup, vacuum bagging, and using peel ply and distribution mat.

Uploaded by

lukhman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
101 views4 pages

Practical Work - Manufacturing of Laminates.: 7.1 Steps Involved in VARTM Process

The document describes manufacturing laminates using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). Glass fiber layers were used to create laminates that will undergo future testing. 5 layers of glass fiber weighing 40.5 grams were used with dimensions of 20x20cm. The VARTM process involves preparing the mold and fabric layup, resin and vacuum lines, vacuum bag, resin infusion, and testing. Initial layers had issues with leaks and non-uniform resin distribution but these were addressed by improving the fabric layup, vacuum bagging, and using peel ply and distribution mat.

Uploaded by

lukhman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

CHAPTER 7

Practical work - Manufacturing of laminates.

The study involved with the manufacturing of a laminates using glass fibre layers in a motive
to obtain practical knowledge on Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding process and this
laminates manufactured in this study will be used for future tests. The materials considered
in the study are the layers of glass fibre and epoxy resin, the description of the glass fibre
layers are as follows:

Weight of the one FRP layer = 8g

Weight of the 5 FRP layer= 40.5 g

Dimension of the FRP layer = 20*20cm (approx.)

The pictorial representation of the experimental setup is as follows:

Fig 7.1 VARTM Experimental Setup (EPL LAB)

7.1 steps involved in VARTM process:

The steps involved in this process are as follows:

Step 1 preparation of the mould


 Preparation of mould and fabric lay up
 Selection of reinforcement

23
 Selection of flow media and/or core material
Step 2 preparation of Resin and Vacuum Lines
 Selection of resin feed lines
 Selection of vacuum lines
Step 3 preparation of the Vacuum Bag
 Building of vacuum bag
 Allow for prohibiting resin from entering the vacuum
Step 4 Vacuum Pump
 Attach the pump
 Ensuring proper vacuum
Step 5 Preparation of Infusion
 Selection of resin
 Resin bucket set-up
Step 6 Resin Infusion
 Catalysing resin and allow it to start infusing
 Clamp off resin line
Step 7 Experiments and Test for Improvement
 Helpful supplies for vacuum infusion
 Typical variations in set-up

Fig 7.2 (a) Fabric Layup and installation of vacuum lines at the Start of the Processing

(b) vacuum bagging

24
(C) leakage at vacuum lining (d) ununiformed resign impregnation

7.2 Observations:

Several observations were made while infusing the initial layers. Layers were fabricated by
providing resin supply at one end of the preform and a vacuum supply at the other end. This
method is known as end fill. Layers were also fabricated with the supply tubing along the
middle line of the preform and the vacuum tubing at the end. This method is known as
middle fill. It was clear that middle fill would be more efficient as the resin had half the
distance to flow to reach the vacuum tubing. However, in the process of the middle fill from
the mould, it was noted that the region under the supply conduit was filled with voids i.e.
attributed to a leak in the supply tubing and resin impregnation is not uniform which is shown
in fig 7.2 (c) and (d). then it is identified that the leaks can be solved by analysing the fabric
layup and vacuum bagging at the start of the process and the uniform resin supply can be
obtained by adopting peel ply and distribution mat in the process which is shown in fig 7.3
(a) and (b) respectively

25
Fig 7.3 (a) Placing Peel ply, (b) Resin impregnation

Fig 7.4 Laminates

26

You might also like