Composites: new rapid molding technologies and unusual reinforcement at Paris JEC Show. From: Plastics Technology | Date: June 1, 2005| Author: Schut, Jan H. | COPYRIGHT 2005 Gardner Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

New molding technologies seen at the JEC Composites Show in Paris in April promise dramatically faster cycles than are achievable with autoclaves or RTM. One novel technique rapidly heats and cools a thin tool by "floating" it on a flexible bladder--similar to a water bed--that is flooded with heat-transfer fluid.

Developmental technology for induction-heated tooling, which is also said to speed cycles for thermoset and thermoplastic composites, has reached the licensing...