2.Bagging tape.In place of the masking tape,apply a 1.3-cm-wide silicone bagging tape to the bare metal surface.The silicone tape should again form a 71 x 30.5 cm frame.Add a strip of the tape, 5 cm in length,to the outer edge of the length of the frame at either end.These two strips will provide an added adhesive sur- face for attachment of the inlet and outlet tubing.Leave the paper backing on the silicone tape to protect it during the remainder of the lay-up procedure. 3.Preform.Place the fiber preform stack on the coated tool,inside the tape frame.A 5.1-cm gap should exist between the silicone tape and both edges of the preform to allow room for tubing.No gap should exist between the silicon tape and fiber preform along the panel width to avoid providing a flow pathway outside the pre- form to the vacuum port. 4.Release cloth.Cut one layer of porous release film to 66 x 30.5 cm, and place it on top of the preform.Place the cloth so that it completely covers the preform and allow 5.1 cm in length to overhang and contact the coated metal surface at the injection side of the lay-up. The release film will allow the composite laminate to release from the distribution media.Cut a second piece of release cloth to 5.1 x 30.5 cm, and place it on the tool surface at the vacuum side of the preform. This patch of cloth provides a clear path for the vacuum. 5.Distribution media.Cut one to six layers of highly permeable distri- bution media,e.g.,biplanar nylon 6 mesh to dimensions of 63.5 x 28.0 cm and stack them above the ArmalonTM release cloth.Place the layers of media so that a 2.5-cm gap exists on the top of the preform at the vacuum end.This gap will force the resin to fill through the thickness rather than be drawn directly into the vacuum port.The length of this gap will vary with the desired thickness of the com- posite panel.A 1.3-cm gap should exist between the media and the sides of the preform.This will help prevent resin flow outside the preform.A 5-cm length of the media will overhang the preform at the resin inlet end of the lay-up. 6.Distribution tubing.Place a 28.0-cm length of distribution tubing across the width of the laminate at points 2.5 cm in front of the preform (inlet)and 2.5 cm away from the preform (vacuum).On the inlet side,place the tubing on top of the distribution media that overhangs the preform.At the vacuum side,place the tubing on the 5x 30.5 cm piece of release cloth.Spiral-wrap,18-mm-diameter conduit is an ideal choice for the distribution tubing because it allows the resin to flow quickly into the distribution media and preform in a continuous line across the width.A plastic tube with holes at 2.5-cm intervals also works well.Attach a 13-mm portion of the spiral tubing to both the inlet-supply tubing and the vacuum 2003 by CRC Press LLC2. Bagging tape. In place of the masking tape, apply a 1.3-cm-wide silicone bagging tape to the bare metal surface. The silicone tape should again form a 71 × 30.5 cm frame. Add a strip of the tape, 5 cm in length, to the outer edge of the length of the frame at either end. These two strips will provide an added adhesive sur￾face for attachment of the inlet and outlet tubing. Leave the paper backing on the silicone tape to protect it during the remainder of the lay-up procedure. 3. Preform. Place the fiber preform stack on the coated tool, inside the tape frame. A 5.1-cm gap should exist between the silicone tape and both edges of the preform to allow room for tubing. No gap should exist between the silicon tape and fiber preform along the panel width to avoid providing a flow pathway outside the pre￾form to the vacuum port. 4. Release cloth. Cut one layer of porous release film to 66 × 30.5 cm, and place it on top of the preform. Place the cloth so that it completely covers the preform and allow 5.1 cm in length to overhang and contact the coated metal surface at the injection side of the lay-up. The release film will allow the composite laminate to release from the distribution media. Cut a second piece of release cloth to 5.1 × 30.5 cm, and place it on the tool surface at the vacuum side of the preform. This patch of cloth provides a clear path for the vacuum. 5. Distribution media. Cut one to six layers of highly permeable distri￾bution media, e.g., biplanar nylon 6 mesh to dimensions of 63.5 × 28.0 cm and stack them above the Armalon™ release cloth. Place the layers of media so that a 2.5-cm gap exists on the top of the preform at the vacuum end. This gap will force the resin to fill through the thickness rather than be drawn directly into the vacuum port. The length of this gap will vary with the desired thickness of the com￾posite panel. A 1.3-cm gap should exist between the media and the sides of the preform. This will help prevent resin flow outside the preform. A 5-cm length of the media will overhang the preform at the resin inlet end of the lay-up. 6. Distribution tubing. Place a 28.0-cm length of distribution tubing across the width of the laminate at points 2.5 cm in front of the preform (inlet) and 2.5 cm away from the preform (vacuum). On the inlet side, place the tubing on top of the distribution media that overhangs the preform. At the vacuum side, place the tubing on the 5 × 30.5 cm piece of release cloth. Spiral-wrap, 18-mm-diameter conduit is an ideal choice for the distribution tubing because it allows the resin to flow quickly into the distribution media and preform in a continuous line across the width. A plastic tube with holes at 2.5-cm intervals also works well. Attach a 13-mm portion of the spiral tubing to both the inlet–supply tubing and the vacuum TX001_ch03_Frame Page 46 Saturday, September 21, 2002 4:51 AM © 2003 by CRC Press LLC