Carbon fiber molding processes include autoclave molding, oven molding, winding molding, and injection molding.
Carbon fiber is generally used in the form of a composite material after being combined with a base material (resin, etc.). Various molding methods (processing methods) are used depending on the form and characteristics of the final product. In addition, molding methods are becoming more and more sophisticated with the goal of improving physical properties and appearance, shortening molding time, etc. The following introduces representative carbon fiber molding methods.
1. Autoclave Molding
An autoclave is simply a pressure cooker. Prepreg is stacked on the molding mold, covered with an expansion film (a film used to create a vacuum state) to reduce pressure, and then heated and cured under pressure in the autoclave. This molding method is suitable for manufacturing high-quality, high-performance products, but the cost is high due to the long molding cycle.
2. Oven molding
As with autoclave molding, prepreg is stacked on the molding die, covered with an expansion film for decompression, but heated and cured under vacuum pressure. Although it is slightly inferior to autoclave molding in terms of performance, it is a molding method that can be used for larger molded products with low operating costs.
3. Winding molding
This is a molding method that winds the prepreg around the mandrel (iron core) and heats and cures it for core removal. It is suitable for the manufacture of small and medium-sized products in the form of tubes and rolls. Mitsubishi Chemical's golf clubs and rollers are mainly produced by winding molding.
4. Injection molding
Also known as injection molding, it is a molding method in which thermoplastic resin raw materials (pellets) such as carbon fiber reinforced nylon and polycarbonate are heated and melted and injected into the mold cavity (gap). The mechanical properties will be reduced, but this is a molding method suitable for short-cycle, complex shape molding.
