Infusion / RFI

Vacuum infusion process (VIP) is a production process increasingly used to improve the aesthetic quality of composite parts and to reduce labour costs. This process mainly involves vacuum, obtained by means of a vacuum pump, pushing the catalysed resin through and impregnating all the fabric layers. The speed at which the layers can be impregnated depends on the viscosity of the resin system, the permeability of the fabric layers and the pressure gradient pushing the infused resin. This process requires the use of film vacuum bags or alternatively silicone vacuum bags that can be reused for several moulds. Resin film infusion (RFI) differs from conventional resin infusion in the process. It involves a processing system in which a resin film is placed on top of the fabric and, thanks to the vacuum created by the pump and exposed to a certain temperature, passes through all the layers of the fabric in a uniform manner. The advantages of using the RFI system over the traditional one are cost savings, faster and more efficient production and greater accuracy in the manufacture of the final product.