Low Pressure Resin Transfer Molding for Cost Effective Aircraft Quality Structures

Typically aerospace components produced using the Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process are required by specification to use very high final injection pressure. This is believed to be necessary to produce a laminate that is void free and that produces structural equivalence to historical autoclave moldings. However, a low pressure RTM process has been developed, tested, and validated that produces structurally equivalent properties to components molded using these specified high final hydrostatic pressures. The significance of using low pressure is that it allows Aircraft Quality Composite Structures to be fabricated with lower cost, less massive tooling, improved cycle times and higher production throughput. Comparative test data will be presented showing physical test results along with case studies developing theoretical Aircraft components and typical cost savings expectations.