Compression Molding of Composites

Compression molding is a widely employed technique in composite manufacturing, involving the use of heat and pressure to shape composite materials. In this process, a pre-measured amount of composite material, often in the form of sheets or pellets, is placed into a mold cavity. The mold is then closed and subjected to high pressure and temperature, allowing the material to conform to the shape of the mold. As the material compresses and solidifies, it forms the desired product. Compression molding is favored for its ability to produce complex shapes with high fiber volume fractions, ensuring strong and consistent composite parts.

From the CW Archives: Fast-cure epoxies for automotive fabrication
Automotive

From the CW Archives: Fast-cure epoxies for automotive fabrication

Sara Black’s 2015 report on the development of snap-cure epoxies for automotive manufacturing still resonates today. 

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Kent Pultrusion
Wabash

Latest Compression Molding Articles

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Core

HyWaSand demonstrates large-series production potential for automotive TP sandwich components

Storage compartment flap for truck interior produced via fully automated continuous fiber thermoplastic sandwich molding technology shows suitability for series manufacture.

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Induction heating platen achieves dynamic temperature management

JEC World 2024: Roctool is introducing the R-IDS, a patented heated platen that aims to make mass production more accessible for composites manufacturing.

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Thermoplastic tape friction tester completed at TPRC

Delivered and implemented at Toray Advanced Composites, the setup seeks to eliminate defects during hot press forming thermoplastic tapes.

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ENRX, Roctool collaborate to advance mold electrification

Plastics and composites manufacturers will benefit from Roctool’s heat and cooling induction for molding processes, with increased technical service support and capability demonstrations on a global scale.

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Improving carbon fiber SMC simulation for aerospace parts

Simutence and Engenuity demonstrate a virtual process chain enabling evaluation of process-induced fiber orientations for improved structural simulation and failure load prediction of a composite wing rib.

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Composite molding compound replaces Invar for lightweight small satellite structures

Patz Materials and Technologies and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory developed a new monolithic optics housing with 80% less weight, near-zero CTE and the high-volume manufacturing required for commercial space.

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Knowledge Centers

Design, Simulation and Testing Technologies for Next-Gen Composite Structures
Design, Simulation and Testing Technologies for Next-Gen Composite Structures

Review the state of the art in design, simulation, failure analysis, digital twins, virtual testing and virtual inspection.

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Wickert Hydraulic Presses
TOPCON24
Toray Advanced Composites
Compression Molding
Kraussmaffei Metering Systems

Latest Compression Molding News And Updates

Heating platens deliver precise, uniform compression molding temperature control

CAMX 2023: Venango Machine features MultiZone heating platens with a control system included, capable of reducing mold surface temperature variation by almost 400% during the compression molding process.

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Tool Gauge, Victrex partner to develop co-molded composite aircraft parts

Novel hybrid overmolding technology achieves novel thermoplastic composite parts to replace machined aluminum components on commercial aircraft, as well as reduce manufacturing costs and timeline.

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Orbital Composites licenses AMCM technology 

Additive manufacturing compression molding (AMCM), co-developed with ORNL, combines robotic AM and continuous fiber technologies to revolutionize high-volume composites manufacturing.

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Carbon Fibers

Toray develops rapid integrated press molding technology for CFRP mobility components

The process and material innovation simultaneously shapes, molds, thermosets and bonds the core and skin in the same mold, achieving this 10 times faster than conventional autoclave molding setups.  

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Pultrusion

TNL Applied Composites Manufacturing course begins February 2023

Hybrid, seven-session class helps participants learn the tricks of different composites manufacturing technologies from wet layup to pultrusion.  

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Sensors

sensXPERT Digital Mold earns 2022 AVK Innovation Award

Data-driven sensor technology optimizes and increases composites manufacturing efficiencies in real time, achieved through collaborative network.  

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CAMX 2024
KraussMaffei Metering Systems
Airtech
Harper International Carbon Fiber
CompositesWorld

Featured Posts

Sustainability

Plant tour: Arris Composites, Berkeley, Calif., U.S.

The creator of Additive Molding is leveraging automation and thermoplastics to provide high-volume, high-quality, sustainable composites manufacturing services.

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Hybrid process marries continuous, discontinuous composites design

9T Labs and Purdue applied Additive Fusion Technology to engineer a performance- and cost-competitive aircraft bin pin bracket made from compression-molded continuous and discontinuous CFRTP.  

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Aerospace

Manufacturing the MFFD thermoplastic composite fuselage

Demonstrator’s upper, lower shells and assembly prove materials and new processes for lighter, cheaper and more sustainable high-rate future aircraft.

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Trends

JEC World 2023 highlights: Innovative prepregs, bio-resins, automation, business development

CW’s Jeff Sloan checks in with JEC innovations from Solvay, A&P, Nikkiso, Voith, Hexcel, KraussMaffei, FILL, Web Industries, Sicomin, Bakelite Synthetics, Westlake Epoxy and Reliance Industries.

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Bonding/Welding

JEC World 2023 highlights: Recycling, biocomposites, smaller equipment and expanding brands

CW senior technical editor Ginger Gardiner addresses some of this year’s hot topics, ranging from novel biocomposites and recycling technology solutions from myriad startups to upgraded, but equally sustainable, equipment from well-established companies.  

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Weaving

PEEK vs. PEKK vs. PAEK and continuous compression molding

Suppliers of thermoplastics and carbon fiber chime in regarding PEEK vs. PEKK, and now PAEK, as well as in-situ consolidation — the supply chain for thermoplastic tape composites continues to evolve.

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Carbon Fiber 2024
CompositesWorld
Thermwood Corp.
pro-set epoxy laminate infusion tool high temp Tg
Airtech International Inc.