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.

Bladder-assisted compression molding derivative produces complex, autoclave-quality automotive parts
Molds/Tools

Bladder-assisted compression molding derivative produces complex, autoclave-quality automotive parts

HP Composites’ AirPower technology enables high-rate CFRP roof production with 50% energy savings for the Maserati MC20.

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Kent Pultrusion
Wabash

Latest Compression Molding Articles

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National Manufacturing Group unveils C3 Molding

National Manufacturing Group features its C3 Molding process for FRP molding, offering the surface cosmetics of thermoplastics, the versatility and strength of fiberglass and compression molding cycle times.

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Resins

Co-molding SMC with braided glass fiber demonstrates truck bed potential

Prepreg co-molding compound by IDI Composites International and A&P Technology enables new geometries and levels of strength and resiliency for automotive, mobility.

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Trends

Orbital Composites wins AFWERX award for Starfighter drone fleet

Under the TACFI contract, Orbital is implementing the AMCM process to build 3D printed composite multi-mission UAS aircraft, surpassing $10 million in government awards.

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KraussMaffei, AIM collaboration achieves HP-RTM carbon fiber wheel rims

KraussMaffei supported, coordinated and delivered compact production equipment tailored to design and process needs for high-quality automotive rims.

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Roctool presents R-IDS induction-heated platens

Roctool aims to upgrade composites manufacturers with dynamic temperature management for thermocompression, thermoforming and vacuum molding processes.

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Composite tooling specialist displays compression mold capabilities

CAMX 2024: Century Tool specializes in the in-house design, build and run-off of dimensionally large parts and Class A surface tooling.

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U.S. Polychemical Acrastrip
ELFOAM rigid foam products
Toray Advanced Composites hi-temperature materials
NewStar Adhesives - Nautical Adhesives
Release agents and process chemical specialties

Latest Compression Molding News And Updates

Hydraulic, transfer press lines provide precision composite molding

CAMX 2024: Wabash MPI/Carver Inc. highlight the Genesis Series of hydraulic presses, as well as a line of transfer presses, engineered for compression molding of various materials.

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Recycling

Sicomin, Fairmat to create recycled CFRP stiffener for body scale

French specialists work together to match epoxy resin production and compatibility targets for a next-gen digital body scan scale product.

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Hybrid composite workcell supports thermosets, thermoplastics

CAMX 2024: Radius Engineering showcases its Hybrid Composite Workcell with the versatility to support a range of closed-mold processes monitored by its Insights control system.

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Automotive

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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JEC

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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Thermoplastics

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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Release agents and process chemical specialties
Alpha’s Premier ESR®
HEATCON Composite Systems
CIJECT machines and monitoring systems
Airtech International Inc.

Featured Posts

Prepregs

Carbon fiber, bionic design achieve peak performance in race-ready production vehicle

Porsche worked with Action Composites to design and manufacture an innovative carbon fiber safety cage option to lightweight one of its series race vehicles, built in a one-shot compression molding process.

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Curing

Corebon induction heating

This sidebar to CW’s August 2024 feature article reviews this technology for more efficient composites manufacturing and why it aligns with Koridion active core molding.

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Design & Tooling

Active core molding: A new way to make composite parts

Koridion expandable material is combined with induction-heated molds to make high-quality, complex-shaped parts in minutes with 40% less material and 90% less energy, unlocking new possibilities in design and production.

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Troubleshooter

Guidance for the thermoforming process

A briefing on some of the common foam core material types, forming methods and tooling requirements.

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SMC composites progress BinC solar electric vehicles

In an interview with one of Aptera’s co-founders, CW sheds light on the inspiration behind the crowd-funded solar electric vehicle, its body in carbon (BinC) and how composite materials are playing a role in its design.  

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RTM

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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Airtech
IRIS Ai-enabled Camera
Visual of lab with a yellow line
Keyland Polymer Webinar Coatings on Composite & AM
CompositesWorld