1 ADVANCES IN VACUUM INFUSION PROCESSING USING SPACER FABRICS AS ENGINEERED REINFORCING

The US Environmental Protection Agency is expected to finalize standards for Maximum Achievable Control Technology that once promulgated could significantly restrict capacity2. While it is lobbying the EPA and Congress for more lenient regulations, the FRP industry is strongly encouraging manufacturers to change from open-mold to cleaner, more efficient closed-mold processes such as vacuum infusion. However, processing limitations of available technology, such as incomplete/slow infusion, uneven distribution/pooling of resin, long set-up time, and material waste has hampered this transition. Interlaminar infusion technology, and in particular the application of three-dimensional spacer fabrics as engineered reinforcing infusion media, addresses these processing concerns. This paper will discus the various applications of three-dimensional spacer fabrics to vacuum infusion processing through practical examples ranging from sporting goods to aerospace