Resin flow member for a vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding process
View Patent ↗The disclosure relates to a resin flow enhancing member, including a cavity with a first opening and a second opening as well as an resin flow adjusting arrangement for changing a resin flow cross section in a resin flow direction from the first opening to the second opening in the resin flow enhancing member by applying vacuum to the second opening. The disclosure further relates to a fiber reinforced plastic laminate including a fiber stack and at least one resin flow enhancing member as well as to a fiber reinforced plastic composite material prepared by using a resin flow enhancing member. The disclosure further relates to a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process for injecting resin from a resin flow enhancing member into a fiber stack.
1. A resin flow enhancing member for the use in a vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding process, comprising:
a cavity with a first opening connectable to a resin inlet of an VARTM apparatus and a second opening connectable to a vacuum pump of a VARTM apparatus, and a resin flow adjusting arrangement for changing a resin flow cross section in a resin flow direction from the first opening to the second opening in the cavity by applying vacuum to the second opening, wherein the resin flow adjusting arrangement comprises a plurality of vacuum expandable filler elements comprising gas-filled closed cell cavities and flexible walls.
2. The resin flow enhancing member according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of vacuum expandable filler elements comprises elastomeric plastic materials.
3. The resin flow enhancing member according to claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of vacuum expandable filler elements comprises thermoplastic fibres mixed with the elastomeric plastic materials.
4. The resin flow enhancing member according to claim 1 ,
wherein the vacuum expandable filler elements comprise closed cell particles and/or hollow fibres and/or hollow spheres.
5. A fibre reinforced plastic laminate comprising a fibre stack and at least one resin flow enhancing member according to claim 1 is arranged on at least one surface of the fibre stack.
6. The fibre reinforced plastic laminate according to claim 5 ,
wherein the laminate comprises a plurality of resin flow enhancing members arranged in the fibre stack.
7. The fibre reinforced plastic laminate according to claim 5 , comprising:
a resin flow enhancing member including a plurality of resin openings for resin penetration into the fibre stack.
8. The fibre reinforced plastic laminate according to claim 5 , comprising:
a resin flow enhancing member including a resin penetrable wall for resin penetration into the fibre stack.
9. The fibre reinforced plastic laminate according to claim 5 , comprising:
a peel ply between the fibre stack and the resin flow enhancing member.
10. The fibre reinforced plastic laminate according to claim 5 , comprising:
a vacuum film provided on the resin flow enhancing member.