Dichtigkeitsprüfung

The production of aircraft components made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)requires the use of so-called curing tools. In this process, prepreg material—a pre-impregnated carbon fiber fabric with resin—is layered into the desired shape and sealed with an airtight film. A vacuum pump extracts air from the layup, pressing the material firmly onto the mold.

In the subsequent autoclave process, both the mold and prepreg material are heated to 180 °C while simultaneously being subjected to high pressure. The heat liquefies the resin in the prepreg material, and the pressure ensures an even distribution of the resin between the carbon fiber layers, eliminating air inclusions. During the final holding cycle, the component hardens and can then be removed from the mold. The result is a lightweight yet highly durable CFRP component.

Requirements

Even minor air pinclusions between the fibers could impair the stability of the component. To ensure the highest quality, vacuum lines and the tool surface must be precisely controlled.

Suitable Products

VD810: The piezo vacuum meter with extended functions and features measures absolute and relative pressure in the rough vacuum range from 2000 to 1 mbar (abs.) and -1060 to +1200 mbar (rel.), independent of gas type. Equipped with a chemically resistant piezo-ceramic sensor with FKM sealing, the VD810 is resistant to contamination, making it ideal for demanding industrial applications.The direct display of measured values and pressure graphs enable precise on-site monitoring. The device's membrane keypad enables convenient, menu-driven user guidance. An internal data logger stores several separate series of measurements with their RTC-data.

Source: Grunewald GmbH & CO. KG