the infusion process - ashland inc.pdf

The Infusion Process ™ With good ch emistr y great t hings h appen. Table of Contents Introduction 3 Initiators 4 Fillers, Reinforcements and Flow Media 6 Closed Molding Process 8 Vacuum Infusion Procedure 12 Health, Safety and Regulatory Information 18 Introduction In the composites industry, regulations regarding emissions As the composites industry entered the 1990s, VOCs were are continuing to become more stringent. The Environmental becoming a major concern. These concerns prompted a new Protection Agency’s MACT (maximum achievable control interest in vacuum infusion molding and, consequently, significant technology) standard became effective, and has made the improvements have been made in the molding process making it a reduction hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions even more much more viable option. critical. The composites industry has been working on developing In addition to reducing emissions, vacuum infusion molding reduced HAP resins for many years. This ongoing work has resulted provides other significant advantages over open molding. Higher, in the development of various low-HAP (less than 35 percent HAP) more consistent glass content can be achieved resulting in the vinyl ester and polyester resins.