Technology

Atlantic Composites production process, Vacuum Infusion, is a controlled process. Composite components hold a number of advantages over the traditional materials used throughout the industry i.e. aluminium, wood or steel.  These advantages include weight, relative strength, corrosion resistance and the ability to be moulded into complex shapes.

Vacuum Infusion - The Equipment and Process of Resin Infusion
The Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP) is a technique that uses vacuum to impregnate the laminate with resin.  Materials are laid dry into the mould and the vacuum is applied before resin is introduced. Once a complete vacuum is achieved, resin is literally sucked into the laminate via strategically placed manifolds. In a typical hand lay-up, glass reinforcements are laid into a mould and manually "wet out" using brushes and rollers.  VIP eliminates the entire manual "wet out" process and exponentially improves the fibre to resin ration. This results in a stronger, lighter and more robust product.

Benefits of Vacuum Infusion: 

• Better fibre-to-resin ratio
• Minimal resin waste
• Consistent resin usage
• Cleaner 
• Eliminates harmful fumes

As previously stated Vacuum Infusion results in a better fiber-to-resin ratio.  A typical hand lay-up normally results in excess of 100% fabric weight by resin.  Resin by its nature is very brittle, therefore excess application of this material, will actually weaken the component. Due to the nature of Vacuum Infusion, resin usage becomes very predictable.