11.Completion of infiltration.The flow-front of resin through the part can be viewed through the bagging film.Halt the flow of resin when the preform is fully infiltrated,as evidenced by resin begin- ning to enter the vacuum distribution tubing.Stop the resin flow by first clamping and severing the resin supply tubing and then clamping and severing the vacuum tubing.Again,these clamps must provide an airtight seal,because any leaks during cure will result in poor consolidation of the part.It is recommended that a second envelope bag be used to pull vacuum on the part during cure.Finally,place the vacuum-sealed part in an oven,and heat it according to a cure cycle prescribed by the resin supplier. 3.2 Autoclave Processing of Thermoplastic Composites Thermoplastic composites may be processed in a high-temperature auto- clave.Figure 3.10 shows the autoclave lay-up sequence for a carbon/poly- etheretherketone(PEEK)composite.Place Kapton film of slightly larger size than the panel,each side being coated with a release agent,on the tool plate. Place Kapton bagging film over the lay-up and seal the bag against the tool plate using A800 G3(or equivalent)tacky tape.Place the tool plate and laminate in the autoclave and attach the vacuum line.The following pro- cessing cycle is recommended for a carbon/PEEK composite. 000diWh 1.Kapton film coated with 5.Airweave breather plies(4) release agent on both sides (high temperature capability) 2.High temperature capability 6.High temperature bagging film peel ply (Kapton-no release) 3.Thermoplastic composite 7.Tacky sealant tape prelam stack (A800 G3 or equivalent) 4.High temperature capability 8.Tool plate peel ply FIGURE 3.10 Vacuum bag preparation for autoclave processing of thermoplastic matrix composite. ©2003 by CRC Press LLC11. Completion of infiltration. The flow-front of resin through the part can be viewed through the bagging film. Halt the flow of resin when the preform is fully infiltrated, as evidenced by resin begin￾ning to enter the vacuum distribution tubing. Stop the resin flow by first clamping and severing the resin supply tubing and then clamping and severing the vacuum tubing. Again, these clamps must provide an airtight seal, because any leaks during cure will result in poor consolidation of the part. It is recommended that a second envelope bag be used to pull vacuum on the part during cure. Finally, place the vacuum-sealed part in an oven, and heat it according to a cure cycle prescribed by the resin supplier. 3.2 Autoclave Processing of Thermoplastic Composites Thermoplastic composites may be processed in a high-temperature auto￾clave. Figure 3.10 shows the autoclave lay-up sequence for a carbon/poly￾etheretherketone (PEEK) composite. Place Kapton film of slightly larger size than the panel, each side being coated with a release agent, on the tool plate. Place Kapton bagging film over the lay-up and seal the bag against the tool plate using A800 G3 (or equivalent) tacky tape. Place the tool plate and laminate in the autoclave and attach the vacuum line. The following pro￾cessing cycle is recommended for a carbon/PEEK composite. FIGURE 3.10 Vacuum bag preparation for autoclave processing of thermoplastic matrix composite. TX001_ch03_Frame Page 48 Saturday, September 21, 2002 4:51 AM © 2003 by CRC Press LLC