Updated 11/5/2021 Published 10/29/2021

Tech Table: Vacuum bagging supplies

This is the fifth in a series of Tech Tables and comprises vacuum bagging material data provided by suppliers.

Senior Managing Editor, CompositesWorld

Removes air trapped between plies
Compacts fiber layers and prevents shifting of fiber orientation during cure
Extracts moisture, solvents and volatiles from curing composites
Achieves a higher fiber-to-resin ratio
Is a cleaner, less wasteful and more efficient process compared to hand layup
Helps in producing low volumes of large structures minus an autoclave
Allows for the use of a variety of molds and custom shapes.

As a result, vacuum infusion continues to show promise for end markets such as wind, aerospace, automotive and marine.

However, VIP is also, arguably, a complex process, and involves a variety of processing materials and steps for proper implementation, including the use of release film or peel ply, a bleeder, separator and breather layer, various tapes for sealing and vacuum pumps to remove air from the laminate. With it comes an equally complex range of suppliers and distributors that offer customers a variety of products.

This is the fifth in a series of Tech Tables that CW has published, each designed to provide as comprehensive a list as possible of suppliers, their products and selected product specifications.

This table of vacuum bagging supplies has been built with data provided by suppliers, and is intended to provide a representation of the products they offer. To further simplify the table, CW only focuses on the basic categories of materials for vacuum bagging for conventional out-of-autoclave (OOA), wet and prepreg layup processes; additional bagging and plumbing provisions are not detailed.

Moreover, while CW was unable to receive data from all vacuum bag suppliers, prominent companies unlisted — but which should be distinguished in this area — include Aerontec, AeroWindTech, Fibretex Nonwovens A/S, Guarniflon S.p.A, Gurit USA, Hauflier Composites GmbH, Hawkeye International, Smooth-On Inc., Wacker Chemie AG and Warm Industrial Nonwovens.

Download the PDF of this table here, or at short.compositesworld.com/VIPTechTable21final

Company	Release Films and Peel Ply				Bleeders		Breather Layers		Breather Yarns/Cloths		Flash Tape	Sealant Tape		Bagging Film			Reusable Vacuum Bags	Vacuum Ports
Company	Peel ply material type(s) available	Nonporous (NP) or porous (P)	Release film material type(s) available.	Perforated release films: Diameter and spacing of the holes	Material type(s) available	Thickness and weight offered	Breather woven/nonwoven fabric type(s)	Amount of pressure (psi) that can be exerted upon it	Breather yarn/cloth(s) roll size(s) available (in)	Recommended working temp	Material type(s) available	Material type(s) available	Material temp range (F/C)	Film type(s) available	Film material range (F/C)	Potential applications	Material type(s) available	Size(s) available (in)	Minimum number of ports
Aerovac –Composites One	Nylon, polyester, teflon and silicone-coated glass, aramid fabrics. Available in a wide range of weights, widths and operating parameters	NP	Polyolefins, fluoropolymers, polyimides	Available in all industry-standard spacing and diameters. Hot and hot perforated in 14 spacing and diameter options	Nonwoven nylon, polyester and various fabrics such as fiberglass	Wide range of industry-standard weights and widths	Nylon, polyester and various fabrics such as fiberglass	Varies by type of material, temp, thickness, weight and other factors	N/A	N/A	Available in a variety of substrates, thicknesses and widths. Options meet all operating environments. Examples: polyester w/ silicone, rubber and acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives, PTFE, nylon, polyimides and fluoropolymers	Butyl rubber and silicone types	Up to 752/400	Construction options include nylon, fluoropolymers, polyimdies, multilayer co-polymer films. Bagging formats unclude sheet stock, tubular, precut and fold configurations. Custom kitting and precut formats available	Temp ranges up to 800/427	Aerospace, marine, wind, glass lamination, automotive, sports and recreational	Cured and uncured silicone, Viton sheet stock and customizable spray silicone bag construction	All standard imperial and metric measurement vacuum fittings and ports	Minimum order quantity of 1
Airtech International	Nylons, polyester, fiberglass with PTFE or silicone coating and aramid	NP	Polyolefins, fluoropolymers, polyimides	All industry-standard perforations	Polyester, nylon, fiberglass	A range of weights, thicknesses	Polyester, nylon, fiberglass	Depending on density and cure temperature, polyester and nylon breather can withstand 100-200 psi. Fiberglass breathers available for higher temperatures, pressures.	N/A	N/A	Flashbreaker tapes in polyester with silicone, rubber and acrylic PSA. Other substrate types available: PTFE, fluorpolymers, nylon and polyimide	Butyl rubber and silicone types	RT to 800/427	Nylong, multilayers, fluoropolymers, polyimide	Spectrum of RT to 800/427 for all applications	Wet layup, infusion prepreg. RT, oven and autoclave cure and vacuum press applications. Scale of application ranges from test panels to large scale (i.e., aircraft wings, fuselage, boats and wind blades)	Silicone, Viton, latex	0.25" and larger	16 port types in multiple sizes
Angeloni Groups SpA	T-077 80 gsm Nylon fabrics with red tracers	NP	FLD 120 25my PP HD low-temp; FLD 170 30my medium/high-temp; FLD HT-500 13my/25my FEP high-temp	P3 10 mm centers, size 0.5 mm +/- 0.2 mm; P31 5 mm centers, size 0.5 +/- 0.2 mm	Polyester	POLY-FLEX TF12 120 gsm 1.3 mm; POLY-FLEX TF15 150 gsm 1.6 mm; POLY-FLEX TF20 gsm, 2.0 mm; and POLY-FLEX TF30 300 gsm 2.7 mm	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Butyl	AN-3 Gray, max temp 284/140; AN-3 yellow, max temp 410/210	Nylon/polyolefin co-extruded films	FLM 120 75my low-temp vacuum bag films; FLM 170 50my high-temp vacuum bag films; TBL 170 50my high-temp vacuum tubulars; TBL 170 75my high-temp vacuum tubulars; TBL 200 50my high-temp vacuum tubulars; TBLAD 170 70my high-temp self-releasing vacuum tubulars	FLM120 for infusion, hand lamination; FLM/TBL 170 for oven and autoclave processes; TBL 200 for oven and autoclave; TBLAD 170 oven and autoclave	N/A	N/A	N/A
ATL Composites	ATL offers a range of Airtec International brand products for the vacuum bagging and vacuum infusing process, including release films and peel ply, bleeders/breathers, flash and sealant tape, as well as bagging films and other specialty items. Please reference this company's website for specific product details.
Diatex SAS	Polyester, polyamid and adhesive peel ply; peel ply for structural bonding (approved by Airbus and Boeing)	NP	284-752°F/120-400°C; perforated or not	500µ or 800µ diameters; 5-10 mm spacing	Polyester	150-440 gsm	Woven glass and nonwoven polyester fabrics	N/A	N/A	N/A	Polyester/acrylic; polyester/silicon; PTFE/silicon; polyimid/silicon	Low-temp sealant tape (infusion process); high-temp (vacuum molding and in/out of autoclave); very high-temp (thermoplastic)	RT to 752/400	Tubular, v-sheet, sheets, kits	Multilayer bagging film; polyamid film; high-elongation film	Marine industry (up to 32 m wide); aeronautics; wind energy; sport and leisure	Marine industry (up to 32 m wide); aeronautics; wind energy; sport and leisure	50 mm (1.97") and 65 mm (2.56")
Fibre Glast Developments Inc.	Econostitch, nylon release, polyester, PTFE-coated fiberglass	N/A	Medium-temp copolymer, high-temp fluoropolymer	N/A	Polyester	0.125", 4 oz (~113g) and 7 oz (~198g)	Nonwoven	4 oz up to 40 psi; 7 oz up to 85 psi	N/A	N/A	Polyester	Synthetic rubber	Up to 400/204	Polyethylene, Stretchlon, nylon	Up to 400/204	Films available for low-conform and high-conform applications. Stretchlon 200 Film available in flat 60"-wide sheet, and a 120"-wide sheet. Nylon bagging film suitable for use with temperatures <300°F and usable in variety of styles; nylon bagging film, >300°F available in a 60"-wide flat sheet, which can be heat-seamed to shape requirements or to create larger sheets.	N/A	For use with 0.5" tubing
HEATCON Composite Systems	Nylon		High-temp, tough fluropolymer and Teflon	0.381 mm diameters on staggered, 0.25" centers; 1.143 mm diameters on 2" centers; and 1.143 mm diameters with 3.5" centers	Polyethyline perforated material and Teflon porous material	1 and 2 mils	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1" and 2" polyester backing	Dark gray and light gray	450/232	2 mil 60V fold and 30" tube; 5 mil thickness option	Nylon (5, 10 and full rolls available)	Aerospace, wind energy, marine, automotive, etc.	N/A	0.25"
Lavender CE	Lavender CE offers a range of products for the vacuum bagging process, including release films and peel ply, bleeders, breathers, flash and sealant tape, as well as bagging film and vacuum ports. Please reference this company's website for specific product details.
National Aerospace Supply	Peel Ply A, B and F	N/A	FEP and ETFE	0.015 and 0.045	Polyester	2.2, 4, 10	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Polyester, acrylic	NA350	Up to 400/204	Nylon	Up to 400/204	N/A	N/A
Smartech International	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	PTFE-coated glass fiber breather mesh (variable sizes available)	Can sustain perfect negative pressure of 13 psi, and withstand temps of nearly 500/260	N/A	N/A	N/A	No required	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	High-strength silicone materials that can sustain perfect negative pressure and withstand temps up to 392/200	Vertical and horizontal vacuum ports are offered; 1/4 NPT with/without air hose quick connect	Minimum of one required, depending on application and/or bag size
SWORL Reuseable Vacuum Bags	SWORL reportedly eliminates the need for most of the items mentioned above such as sealant tape, bagging film, breather fabrics, peel ply and release films, bleeders, breathers and flash tape. SWORL is being used in a broad range of intricate and/or high-volume applications such as marine, industrial, architectural, and aerospace applications. SWORL is used in a wide variety of process applications including infusion, oven cures, autoclave cures and as well as OoA and over a wide variety of resins such as prepregs, PE, VE PUR, phenolics, and epoxies.																Spray silicone	13 mm (0.512") and 16 mm (0.629")	Number of ports needed per bag is part dependent
TORR Technologies	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	PTFE-coated Kevlar screen/belting	200 psi	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Silicone, rubber, EPDM	0.25, 0.375 and 0.5" male NPT; 1/4 male BSPT; adapters for JIC, SAE and larger NPT connections