ComPRIS

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ComPRIS

• The Composites Pressure Resin Infusion System
  pat. pend.

Dr. Barry Goodell, Dr. Roberto Lopez-Anido, and
Mr. Benjamin Herzog AEWC Center, University of
Maine Contact Information Professor Goodell
207-581-2888 Professor Lopez-Anido
207-581-2119 http//www.aewc.umaine.edu/personnel/
professionals.asp
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What is ComPRIS?

• It is a process that allows the infusion of resin
  into parts and composite laminates using
  pressure.
• ComPRIS can be used to
• Produce Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite
  parts of high strength and quality.
• Infuse porous materials with large or small
  amounts of resin to improve dimensional
  stability, protect against environmental
  degradation, and provide fire protection.
• Laminate and/or reinforce materials.
• Lamination can be done with prefabricated FRP
  composite sheets with or
• Infusion of fiber reinforcement layers can be
  done during the lamination process.
• A graded interphase rather than an abrupt
  glueline provides for a stronger bond between
  component parts.

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Background

• Current environmental regulations require that
  closed mold processes be used to limit the
  release of VOCs in the workplace, and into the
  environment.

• VARTM based processes were developed in-part
  because of these concerns and the first patent on
  SCRIMP appeared in 1990.

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Advantages of VARTM/SCRIMP

• SCRIMP and VARTM processes offer advantages of
• Reduced VOC release because of the closed mold
  process.
• Rapid and even distribution of resin through one
  or more distribution media.
• Close control of fabrication compared to hand
  lay-up
• High consistency and reproducibility of parts.
• Cost and labor savings over hand lay-up may be up
  to 50 (Marsh 1997. Reinf. Plastics).

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Why ComPRIS?

• There are still several problems or
  disadvantages to the SCRIMP process.
• SCRIMP does not allow for very high fiber volume
  content due to the limitations imposed by applied
  vacuum.
• SCRIMP does not allow penetration of thick parts
  well.
• Heavy tow, dense fabric reinforcements cannot be
  fully penetrated using the SCRIMP process.
• Microvoids which cause a reduction in strength
  are present in SCRIMP parts where resins with
  volatile solvents (the norm in the industry) are
  used.

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The Pros and Cons for ComPRIS
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The Downside?

• ComPRIS does require a pressure vessel or
  autoclave (or other means of providing pressure)
  to fabricate parts.

• Given the reduced fabrication steps required,
  and the other advantages of the use of pressure,
  ComPRIS is an ideal process for high value parts
  that are sized to fit within an autoclave.

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Advantages of ComPRISWhy is PRESSURE an
advantage?

• The use of pressure avoids the problems of
  vacuum-induced defects. NO vacuum-induced
  microvoids causing strength reduction are
  produced with ComPRIS.
• Pressure also allows heavy fabrics and thick
  parts to be penetrated. In general, the greater
  the density of the fabric, all other processing
  parameters being equal, the greater the strength
  of the final product.
• When desired, pressure allows the resin to
  penetrate into core or laminate materials
  resulting in greatly enhanced bonding properties,
  reducing or eliminating delamination problems.
• Because of the pressures used, improved resin
  penetration, reduction or elimination of flow or
  resin distribution media is often possible.

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Vacuum vs. Pressure

• In VARTM based processes the maximum pressure
  differential that can be achieved is
  approximately 1 Atm (27 inches of mercury). This
  equates to approximately -15 PSI.
• With ComPRIS, pressures of 45 PSI, or three times
  the differential used in VARTM are commonly used.
  Pressures of 140 PSI or greater can also easily
  be applied.
• The FORCE driving the resin into the matrix is
  therefore THREE to TEN TIMES GREATER WITH COMPRIS
  OVER VARTM PROCESSES.

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ComPRIS Features

• Composite parts can be fabricated with
• Two quality surfaces (SCRIMP typically has one
  surface with waviness).
• Embedded inserts such as connectors, instruments
  and cores.
• Higher viscosity resins than SCRIMP. For example,
  vinyl ester resins with less styrene content can
  be used.

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Flat and curved ComPRIS FRP composite parts
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ComPRIS can also be used to fabricate FRP
composites as well as hybrid laminated materials
ALL IN A ONE-STEP PROCESS.
ComPRIS is the only process available that allows
near-surface reinforcement of porous laminate, or
core materials in one-step.
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ComPRIS can be used to fabricate FRP composite
sheets, or parts of intricate shape.
Above Three layers of structural E-glass are
fabricated with two layers of an unreinforced
polymeric material (interior translucent layers)
and these are bonded to the two layers of Wood
Plastic Composite (WPC) on the outside.
Above Resin can be infused into porous
substrates (other than wood) such as FRP fabrics
that have been formed to different shapes. Tubes,
pipes, and other shapes can be produced using
appropriate venting procedures to release
entrapped air.
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In the SCRIMP process, vacuum-induced voids are
produced in the matrix. These voids cannot be
seen with the eye, but do decrease the strength
of the final FRP.
Ref Herzog B. , B. Goodell, and R. Lopez-Anido,
Electron Microprobe Imaging And Laser Scanning
Confocal Microscopy To Characterize Polymer
Matrix Composites, submitted for publication to
Composites Part A Applied Science and
Manufacturing, 2003.
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ComPRIS Pressure Resin Infiltration produces FRP
composites and FRP composite interphase regions
without microvoids.
-Left FRP fabrication using ComPRIS infuses
fabric reinforcement with no vacuum-induced
microvoids. -Center and Right FRP composites
fabrication and lamination to other porous
matrices (wood in this case). INTERPHASE bonding
rather than an abrupt glue line as occurs in
conventional bonding produces a stronger bond,
less subject to delamination.
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Benefits of ComPRIS fabrication

• ComPRIS also offers many of the same advantages
  that VARTM or SCRIMP processes do
• Closed mold with reduced VOCs.
• Rapid and even distribution of resin (often
  without resin distribution media).
• Close control of fabrication.
• High consistency and reproducibility.
• Cost and labor savings should be significant.

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QUESTIONS?
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Materials that can be used in ComPRIS fabrication?

• E-glass fibers and a variety of other
  reinforcement fibers/fabrics.
• Vinyl ester resin as well as other resins
  compatible with the reinforcements used.
• A large number of porous core or laminate
  substrates including foam core wood, cement, and
  plastics, as outlined in subsequent slides.

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Where does the entrapped air go?

• Two types of fabrication are possible
• When employing a bagging system similar to VARTM
  processes, air is pushed out of the fabric by the
  flow of the resin, and is voided to a trap.
• A bladder of buffer material (BBPM) that allows
  air to be compressed in one or more interior
  cavities is also be used in non-bagged systems to
  void air from a part being infused with resin.

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1) ComPRIS bag pressure system
Resin Infeed
Air Pressure Applied
Bag Collapse
Tool
Resin Trap
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2) BPM ComPRIS. Displacement and compression of
air from part.
Air Pressure applied
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The Bladder or Buffer Permeable Material (BPM)
may be incorporated into the final product, or
may be removed to produce the final product.
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The BBPM can be produced from a permeable
material with a hollow cavitie(s) that allows
entrapped air to escape the part being infused.
1026
1027
1028
925
925
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Alternately, if a porous matrix is bonded to an
FRP layer as part of the final part, this porous
matrix functions to accept entrapped air and
functions as the BBPM.

• Examples of porous matrixes include
• Wood laminates
• Bleeder Breather Fabrics
• Foam Core
• Concrete
• Porous polymerics