VACUUM INFUSION

The vacuum technology has been known since 1970’s and at the very beginning it was mostly used by a military aircraft. Interesting is the fact that the technique mentioned has been used worldwide in the industry only for few years.

The infusion is understood as a process in which there is a vacuum between a “vacuum bag” and a mould. Thanks to it, it is possible to draw in a resin and, as a result, to produce a construction that can be later on processed. The inevitable element of the vacuum infusion is an easy flow of a resin through the laminate’s structure. It is achieved thanks to the application of the proper sandwich material, woven roving fabrics or special net. Then the mould with the reinforcement is covered with foil. The 0.3-0.9 atmosphere vacuum guarantees the precise and homogeneous impregnation of a mould.

The application of infusion has a lot of advantages, which undoubtedly should be taken into consideration while choosing this technology. First and foremost is the automatisation of the laminating process and the possibility of choosing various materials and resins. The infusion process significantly diminishes the amount of resin (circa 50% of fiberglass, carbon or aramid and 50% of resin), thanks to which laminates are much more durable. A vacuum is created during the infusion process, that is why materials are compressed and smaller. Another important advantage of the vacuum infusion technology is the elimination of air bubbles, thanks to which the product looks good and is more durable. The technology of vacuum infusion might be used both, in moulds’ and ready composite elements’ production. What is crucial, the process allows for a significant reduction of the costs of production.