Manufacturing methods

A permanent evolution

The demand for shortened lead times has led VN Composites to increasingly master and develop technological innovations.

The layup of prepregs

The draping operation consists in cutiing sheets of raw material, called prepregs and manually draping into a mold which will form the parts. Cooking methods are manifold :

• Under vaccum
• Autoclave
• Silicone vaccum bags
• Press

CMC : Compression molded composite

VN Composites has developped a specific manufacturing process for the new material, made with a quasi-isotropic high strength carbon composite.
The principle consists in shaping a carpet of randomly placed fibers forming a web under high pressure to obtain a solid part. The advantages are many :

• Reduce the cost of parts of the production series
• Make details of complex shapes and rib-shaped reinforcements
• Density 1.55
• Improve cross-holdings

RTM : Resin Transfert Molding

The RTM process involves low pressure injection of resin through the dry fabric placed in a closed mold. VN Composites has a work room dedicated to this manufacturing process for high precison control of temperature and moisture parameters moisture.

Infusion

Infusion process is to develop dry frabric on a mold using a vacuum lid. The resin is then removed by the action of vacuum to impregnate fabrics.

A notable advantage of this process : it's carried out at ambient temperature.

Silicone vacuum bags

The manufacturing of composite parts with complex shapes to design and produce silicone vacuum bags. VN Composites manufactures its own silicone vacuum bags by injection to ensure constant thickness and uniform pressure distribution during the molding phase of its parts.

Polyurethane casting parts

The principle consists in pouring polyurethane resins into a closed mold, taking into account the withdrawal parameters and exo therm of the material.

A notable advantage of this process : it is carried out at ambient temperature.

Thermoplastic fiber reinforcement

The principle is to introduce fiber fabric layers coupled to a thermoplastic resin in a mold. The closure is achieved by pressurinzing the press agianst the mold. This method is particularly good for armored parts. A significant advantage to this method : the coocking cycle is very short.