| VACUUM
ASSISTED RESIN TRANSFER MOLDING PROCESS (VARTM)
Procedure:
- Closed
mold process using one rigid tool face and one flexible
blanket (polymer film, rubber membrane, thin GRP, etc)
- Dry
reinforcement and cores enclosed between blanket and tool
- Liquid
thermosetting resin introduced under full or partial vacuum
- Various
techniques used to control and facilitate resin distribution.
Typical
VARTM Set Up:
RTM
vs VARTM
| RTM |
VARTM |
| Fixed
mold cavity |
Part
thickness depends on compressibility of reinforcement |
High
pressure injection
(rapid flow rates) |
Maximum
1 bar injection pressure
(slow flow rates) |
| Two
molded faces |
One
molded surface |
| Sophisticated
process control |
Little
potential for automation |
| High
cost tooling |
Reduced tooling costs |
| Few
consumables |
Significant
consumables |
Demonstration
of VARTM processing in composites class at
Northwestern University
|
