The new patent-pending seal, called the Secure Vacuum Bag seal (SVB seal), can help reduce consumable cost and waste, decrease time and labor requirements, and improve part quality and consistency, the company said.
Currently the vacuum infusion process requires sealant tapes, commonly known as tacky tape, to secure plastic bagging around the perimeter of the mold. Tacky tape is a consumable, meaning it can only be used once, and it is labor intensive to apply due to the folds of the bag causing pleating and leading to air leaks, MVP said. The SVB seal can reportedly help eliminate pleating and creates an air-tight seal with every part. As well as this, one SVB Seal can be used to build hundreds of parts before needing to be replaced, resulting in cost savings for manufacturers, according to the company.
The SVB seal is designed to fit into a groove built into the perimeter of the mold, with a set-up similar to the typical vacuum bagging process. Once the laminate is prepared for infusion, the bag is applied to the top of the mold. Instead of applying tacky tape to seal the bag to the perimeter of the mold, the bag is secured into a groove in the mold flange under the first half of the SVB seal. Once the first half of the seal is in place, the second half of the seal is added and vacuum is pulled on the mold. The result is an airtight seal and consistent infusion, MVP said.
