A mold assembly for producing a part includes a first section, a second section movably coupled to the first section, and a cavity defined by the first section and the second section, the cavity being shaped to receive a part while the first section and the second section are movably coupled to each other. The mold assembly includes a joint formed by adjacent surfaces of the first section and the second section and a seal extending along the joint.

A process for the preparation of a fiber reinforced composite article that facilitates manufacturing of composite articles with reduced cycle times, said composite articles exhibiting high fibre content, low void content and excellent visual and mechanical properties, and capable of use for the construction of mass transportation vehicles, in particular, in the automotive and aerospace industries.

The equipment for the production of slabs in mineral grits bound with resins, comprises: a support frame, at least one lower plate, locked together with the frame, comprising at least one positioning zone for at least one mold having at least one forming cavity, open at the top, to contain a mix comprising the materials necessary to obtain the slabs, at least one pressing assembly comprising an upper plate movable, with respect to the frame, from an upper position of loading/unloading the mold in/from the positioning zone, to a lower position of pressing the mix inside said forming cavity, vibrating means associated at least with the lower plate, and an airtight chamber, communicating with suction means, adapted to reduce the pressure to a value lower than the atmospheric pressure, containing the mold, where the chamber is interposed between the lower plate and an upper closing element opposite the lower plate.

A method for molding a composite material includes arranging a prepreg on a jig molding surface of a jig for molding. The method includes sealing a first endless seal region that surrounds the prepreg is formed by bonding a resin bag and the jig molding surface by a first sealing material and a second endless seal region that surrounds the prepreg and is positioned outside the first seal region is formed by bonding a resin bag and the jig molding surface by a second sealing material. The method includes depressurizing a first space inside the first seal region and a second space between the first seal region and the second seal region are depressurized. The method includes thermally curing the prepreg by supplying a water vapor into the internal space of a pressure vessel, while holding the pressure vessel in a sealed state.

The present invention provides a resin leakage prevention member 401 for use in a molding die 1000, wherein the molding die 1000 includes a lower die 200 and an upper die 100, the lower die 200 has a side member 201 and a bottom member 202, a space surrounded by the side member 201 and the bottom member 202 forms a cavity 204, the cavity 204 is configured to accommodate a resin material 20a, the side member 201 is configured to move relatively vertical to the bottom member 202, and the resin leakage prevention member 401 is disposed on a peripheral portion of an upper surface of the bottom member 202 and along an inner peripheral surface of the side member 201, thereby sealing a gap between the side member 201 and the bottom member 202 and preventing a resin from leaking from the cavity 204 into the gap.

A mold assembly for producing a part includes a first section, a second section movably coupled to the first section, and a cavity defined by the first section and the second section, the cavity being shaped to receive a part while the first section and the second section are movably coupled to each other. The mold assembly includes a joint formed by adjacent surfaces of the first section and the second section and a seal extending along the joint.

A seal system includes a male body and a female body that are slidable in relation to one another in an axial direction and between which an interstice is arranged. Plastics in pasty state pass through the interstice to a chamber partially defined by at least one of the aforementioned bodies. An elastic strip is arranged in the interstice to prevent leakage of the plastics.

A rotary compression-molding machine includes an upper punch-retaining portion disposed above a table including die bores and retaining an upper punch, a dust-proofing device including a sealing case including a bottom wall that includes an insertion bore penetrated by the upper punch and faces a downward surface of the upper punch-retaining portion, and an outer wall facing an outer surface of the upper punch-retaining portion, and supported by the upper punch-retaining portion, and an expandable dust cover attached to be in contact with a downward surface of the bottom wall of the sealing case and covering a circumferential edge of the insertion bore and an outer circumference of the upper punch, and air passages disposed between the outer wall of the sealing case and the outer surface of the upper punch-retaining portion.

A rotary compression-molding machine includes a lower punch-retaining portion disposed below a table including die bores and retaining a lower punch, and a dust-proofing device including a sealing case supported by the lower punch-retaining portion and including a bottom wall that includes an insertion bore penetrated by the lower punch, faces an upward surface of the lower punch-retaining portion, and includes a dust receiver disposed outside the insertion bore and configured to capture dust, and an outer wall that rises from an outer edge of the bottom wall, has an upper end positioned higher in level than an upward surface of a circumferential edge of the insertion bore, and includes a returning part projecting inward from the upper end or a portion adjacent thereto.

A method of forming a fiber reinforced article comprising following steps: 101) providing a composite preform comprising of thermoplastic polymer matrix and reinforcing fibers, wherein the preform comprises an initial volume and initial fiber orientation, 102) loading the preform inside a radial molding apparatus comprising of at least three adjacent die segments next to each other forming a mold cavity in an initial position having an initial volume, 103) molding the preform by moving the die segments, which are in direct contact with each other during the initial position and movement and a compressed position, and which are perpendicular to a common longitudinal axis of the preform, wherein the initial volume of the mold cavity decreases and the die segments compress the preform to a form defined by the mold cavity in the compressed position having a final volume, which is smaller or equal to the initial volume of the preform, 104) opening the mold cavity, and 105) removing the obtained fiber reinforced article, which comprises a tailored fiber orientation, from the mold cavity, wherein the continuous reinforcing fibers follow to a surface contour of said article.