Cytec

IndustrialMaterials

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Ovenvacuumbagprocessing
layupandbaggingguidelines
TDS1041_04.13_Issue1a

Ovenvacuumbagprocessinglayupand
baggingguidelines
TheguidelinesinthisdocumentareapplicabletoallCytecovenvacuumbagprocessable
prepregswiththeexceptionof;MTM441andMTM451,phenolics,bismaleimides(BMIs),
andcyanateesters.

Thawingprepregbeforeuse
Cytecprepregsmustbestoredinafreezer.Whenmaterialisremovedfromthefreezer,itisessentialthattherollbe
allowedtothawandreachroomtemperaturebeforethepolythenebagisopened.Forexample,thethawtimefora20
2
linearmetre(250ft )rolltakenfrom18C(0F)storageintoa21C(70F)roomistypicallybetween4and6hours.
Condensationmayformonthesurfaceofthematerialifitisnotfullythawed.Moisturewithinacuringlaminatemaybe
detrimentaltofinalpartqualityandappearance.Whenmaterialsarereturnedtothefreezertheymustberesealedina
polythenebagcontainingadesiccantpacktopreventingressofmoisture.

Layup
Prepregshouldbecuttoshapeandlaidupinaccordancewithdesigninstructions.Caremustbetakenduringlayupto
ensuretheprepregconformsexactlytothetoolshape,especiallyaroundinternalfemalecorners.

Toenabletheprepregtoconformfullytoallgeometriesofthetoolandtoremoveanytrappedairbetweenplies,itis
recommendedthatthelayupisdebulkedatregularintervals*.Thisiscarriedoutbyplacingthelayupunderavacuum
bagandpullingaminimumof980mbar(29Hg)**forupto30minutes(refertodebulkingguidelines,[TDS1036]for
recommendedconsumables).

Avacuumdroptestshouldbeperformedpriortocureofthepart.Thetestmustshowavacuumlossofnomorethan
68mbar(2Hg)within10minutesoncethevacuumsourceisremoved.

*VTF261prepregsdonotrequireregulardebulking,seeVTF261layupsectionforfurtherinformation.

**Thisistheidealvacuumlevel,however,itisrecognisedthatitisnotalwayspossibletoattain.Ifindoubt,pleasecontact
ourtechnicalsupportstaffforadvice.

VTF261

VTF261prepregsshouldbeplacedwiththetackysideincontactwiththetool.Debulkingisusuallyunnecessaryasnoairis
trappedunderthepartiallyimpregnatedZPREGsurfaceply,butiftheshapeofthepartiscomplexthenitmaybe
advisabletoperformashortvacuumdebulkwithaperforatedreleasefilm.

Thesurfaceplycanthenbebackedupwiththedesirednumberofbulkplies.

Itisessentialthatairpathsbemaintainedintothebreather/bleederfabricduringthecuringprocess.Thisisachievedby
extendingthesurfaceplybyatleast10mm(0.5inch)beyondthesubsequentlaminatepliesaroundtheperimeterofthe
part.

AperforatedP3releasefilmshouldbeusedtoensurecontinuityoftheairpathsintothebreatherlayerduringthecure
process.

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Ovenvacuumbagprocessing
layupandbaggingguidelines
TDS1041_04.13_Issue1a

Recommendedbaggingprocedure
Itisessentialthatairpathsremainopenfromthelaminatetothebreatherduringovenvacuumbagcures.Pleasecontact
ourtechnicalsupportstaffforfurtherinformation.

Baggingfilm

Peelply/
releasefabric
(optional)

Releasefilm
Breather/bleederfabric

Adhesivetape
Breathableedge
dams
Sealanttape
Releasedtool
Laminatelayup

Peelply/releasefabric(optional)

Apeelplyorreleasefabriccanbeusedifrequired.Forthinpartsofonlyafewplies,animpregnatedpeelplymaybe
requiredtoensurethelaminateretainssufficientresinoncethepeelplyisremoved.Pleasecontactourtechnicalsupport
staffforfurtherinformation.

Peelpliesarerecommendedwhenabondingsurfaceisrequired.Releasefabricsarerecommendedforcontrolledresin
bleedofthelaminatewherenobondingwilltakeplace.

Releasefilmdetail

Thereleasefilmshouldbepositionedsothatitdoesnotcovertheentiretyofthebreathabledams.Thereleasefilmcanbe
tapedtothedamsatregularintervalstoensureitremainsinplace.

Solidreleasefilmisrecommendedwhenzeroresinbleedisrequired.Perforatedreleasefilmcanbeusedwhenextraair
removalisrequired.

Breatherdetail

2
Option1:Oneplyofheavyweightbreather330g/m (10oz/yd).Thebreathershouldconnectdirectlytotheedgedamsand
thevacuumports,wheretwoorthreeadditionallayersofbreathershouldbeappliedlocally.

Option2:Oneortwopliesoflightweightbreather150g/m2(4oz/yd).Thebreathershouldconnectdirectlytothevacuum
portswheretwoorthreeadditionallayersofbreathershouldbeappliedlocally.

Breathableedgedams(notrequiredwhenusingVTF261)

Breathableedgedams,suchassealanttapewrappedinpeelply/lightweightglassfabricarerecommendedforthick
sections(greaterthan2mm[0.08inch]).Thesealanttapecanbewrappedinadhesivetapeonthreesidespriortobeing
wrappedinpeelply/lightweightglassfabricifrequired.Theedgedamsshouldbethesameheightasthelayupandwill
helptoassistairremovalfromthethicknessofthelaminateandhelptoreducetheroundingoftheedgesofthelayup
whichcancutoffairpaths.

Alternatively,glasstowsordrypeelplystripsplacedat300mm(12inch)intervalsaroundtheedgeofthelaminatecanbe
usedforthinnersectionsastheywillprovideairpathsunderthereleasefilmandintothebreather.

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Ovenvacuumbagprocessing
layupandbaggingguidelines
TDS1041_04.13_Issue1a

Recommendedconsumables
Pleaseensurethatthereissufficienttemperaturecontrol/monitoringtoguaranteethattheconsumablesarenotexposed
toanenvironmentexceedingtheirmaximumoperatingtemperature.Pleasecontactourtechnicalsupportstaffforfurther
information.

Maximumoperating
Producttype
Productname
Material
temperature
Releasefilm(canbesupplied
A2000
Blendedcopolymer
150C(302F)
perforatedorsolid)
A6200
ETFE
232C(450F)
A100PS
Nylon
180C(356F)
B100
Nylon
180C(356F)
Peelply
F400
Polyester
200C(392F)
60001
Polyester
200C(392F)
51789
Nylon
205C(401F)
BR100
Nylon
180C(356F)
Nylon
180C(356F)
A8888
Releasefabric
51789SRB
Nylon
205C(401F)
FF03PM
Glass
320C(608F)
AB100/A3000
Polyester
205C(401F)
Breather/bleederfabric
AB10/RC300010
Polyester
205C(401F)
Coextrudednylon
150C(302F)
VACFILM400Y
Coextrudednylon
170C(338F)
VACFILM450V
Baggingfilm
TM
Nylon
204C(399F)
STRETCHVAC 3000
VACPAKHS8171
Nylon
205C(401F)
Adhesivetape
FT1
Polyester
204C(399F)
UCS180
Butyl
180C(356F)
Sealanttape
SM5142
Butyl
205C(401F)

Allstatements,technicalinformationandrecommendationscontainedinthisdatasheetaregiveningoodfaithandarebasedontestsbelievedtobereliable,buttheiraccuracyandcompletenessarenotguaranteed.Theydonotconstituteanoffertoanypersonand

shallnotbedeemedtoformthebasisofanysubsequentcontract.AllproductsaresoldsubjecttotheCytecsStandardTermsandconditionsofSale.Accordingly,theusershalldeterminethesuitabilityoftheproductsfortheirintendedusepriortopurchaseandshall
assumeallriskandliabilityinconnectiontherewith.Itistheresponsibilityofthosewishingtosellitemsmadefromorembodyingtheproductstoinformtheuserofthepropertiesoftheproductsandthepurposesforwhichtheymaybesuitable,togetherwithall

precautionarymeasuresrequiredinhandlingthoseproducts.Theinformationcontainedhereinisunderconstantreviewandliabletobemodifiedfromtimetotime.
Copyright2012CytecIndustrialMaterials(Derby)Ltd.Allrightsreservedworldwide.Alltrademarksorregisteredtrademarksarethepropertyoftheirrespectiveowners.

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