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.
Latest Compression Molding Articles
VIEW ALL
ORNL demonstrates lightning strike protection tech for composites
Researchers, led by Vipin Kumar, developed a low-cost, recyclable carbon fiber wind turbine blade tip that showed resilience to high-voltage lightning strikes, with more innovations in store.
Read More
VIDEO: High-volume processing for fiberglass components
Cannon Ergos, a company specializing in high-ton presses and equipment for composites fabrication and plastics processing, displayed automotive and industrial components at CAMX 2024.
Watch
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read MoreKnowledge Centers
CompositesWorld’s CW Tech Days: Infrastructure event offers a series of expert presentations on composite materials, processes and applications that should and will be considered for use in the infrastructure and construction markets.
LEARN MORE
In the Automated Composites knowledge center, CGTech brings you vital information about all things automated composites, from the manufacturing processes to the vendors and necessary tools.
LEARN MORE
Closed mold processes offer many advantages over open molding. This knowledge center details the basics of closed mold methods and the products and tools essential to producing a part correctly.
LEARN MORE
Latest Compression Molding News And Updates
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.
Read More
Roctool presents R-IDS induction-heated platens
Roctool aims to upgrade composites manufacturers with dynamic temperature management for thermocompression, thermoforming and vacuum molding processes.
Watch
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
Featured Posts
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.
Read More
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.
Watch
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.
Watch
Guidance for the thermoforming process
A briefing on some of the common foam core material types, forming methods and tooling requirements.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
