The present disclosure relates to a multifunctional film for a vacuum bag that may include a flexible barrier film that may include a textured surface. The multifunctional film may further include a release coating overlying the textured surface of the flexible barrier film. The multifunctional film may further have an oxygen (O.sub.2) permeability of not greater than about 1100 cc/(m2-day-atm) and a stability rating of not greater than about 90%, where the stability rating is defined as the maximum percent decrease in elongation at break as measured using ASTM D882 after being exposed to a temperature of 200° C. for 12 hours.

A system for curing a thermoset composite may include a tooling die configured to receive and support an uncured thermoset composite part and to heat the uncured thermoset composite part; a pressure media bag configured to be placed over the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die and including a pressure media; and a mechanical press configured to apply a consolidation pressure to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die, the pressure media bag may be configured to distribute the consolidation pressure applied by the mechanical press to the uncured thermoset composite part disposed on the tooling die.

A system for manufacturing a composite part including a conductive flexible facesheet and an automated tape layup (ATL) machine for laying up composite tape onto the facesheet that is laid flat on a flat surface. The system also includes a curved tooling surface for transferring the facesheet with the composite material thereon to the curved tooling surface for attachment of substructures and curing into the composite part. System may also include insulation placed below the facesheet and insulation placed above the composite material, as well as a source of electricity and heat for heating the conductive facesheet to cure, melt, or fuse the composite tape and substructures without heating the tooling surface and other tooling used in the composite curing process. Heating of the facesheet may be performed using joule heat provided by a single turn transformer inducing current to conductive wires attached at opposing ends to the facesheet.

A structure comprising a plurality of walls defining a bladder cavity, the bladder cavity comprises an initial cross section size. A first plurality of wave features provided along at least one of the plurality of walls defining the bladder cavity. In one arrangement, the first plurality of wave features allow the structure to expand from the initial cross section size to a second cross section size after the structure becomes inflated during a composite charge cure, the second cross section size larger than the initial cross sectional size.

An apparatus can include a base mold and a silicone bag attached to the base mold. The base mold and the silicone bag can define a primary chamber in fluid communication with a primary vacuum port and a resin channel in fluid communication with the primary chamber. Resin can be injected into the resin channel and, with the assistance of a vacuum pressure applied at the primary vacuum port, resin flows from the resin channel into the primary chamber where it infuses a porous material. The base mold and silicone bag also define an outer vacuum channel that holds the silicone bag in place. The apparatus can be used in a method of manufacturing composite materials.

An embossed vacuum bag film for use in a vacuum bagging system during a process of curing a composite part. The embossed vacuum bag film includes a raised pattern defining a lower air pathway. The embossed vacuum bag film may be a single layer or a multi-layer film including an upper layer having low permeability and a lower layer coupled to the upper layer that is configured to self-release from the composite part.

A method for hardening a preform into a composite part is provided. The method comprises aligning a layup mandrel carrying a preform for insertion into an autoclave having an inner surface that is complementary to a contour of the preform. The layup mandrel is then sealed into the autoclave.

Resin infusing a composite preform includes placing a first vacuum bagging film over a tool surface and the composite preform to define a sealed first chamber. A bridge structure has an underside defining a cavity above the first vacuum bagging film. A second vacuum bagging film is placed over the first vacuum bagging film and the bridge structure to define a sealed second chamber. At least partial vacuum pressure is applied to the first chamber to drive resin from a resin supply through the first chamber, infusing the composite preform with resin. Partial vacuum pressure is applied inside the second chamber and an exterior pressure is applied outside the second vacuum bagging film while. The exterior pressure exceeds the pressure applied to the first and second chambers, thereby compacting the composite preform outside of a region, with the bridge supporting the second vacuum bagging film against the exterior pressure.

One embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure may use a fixture with one or more boot recesses formed therein. An embedded member may be engaged with a boot and placed in a boot recess. Substrate lay-up may be placed around all or a portion of the embedded member and an outer member may be positioned over the substrate lay-up. A cover may be positioned over the outer member and engaged with the fixture. The pressure within an interior portion of the fixture may be reduced to less than ambient pressure and resin may be introduced to interact with the substrate lay-up and allowed to cure.

A composite material molding method includes a first disposition step for disposing a prepreg on a jig molding surface of a molding jig; a first sealing step for airtightly sealing the prepreg by covering the prepreg with a first resin bag; a second disposition step for disposing a breather so as to cover the first resin bag; a second sealing step for airtightly sealing the breather so as to cover the breather with a second resin bag; a first depressurization step for depressurizing a first space sealed by the first resin bag; a second depressurization step for depressurizing a second space sealed by the second resin bag; and a heat-curing step for heat-curing the prepreg by supplying the internal space of a pressure vessel with a steam with a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure.