A degassing device and method for vacuum-infused resin of composite materials

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of composite material molding and resin application, and particularly to a degassing device and method for vacuum-injected composite resin. The device includes a degassing tank; a container of undegassed resin is connected to the input end of the degassing tank via a first pipe; a vacuum pump is connected to the degassing tank via a second pipe; a first pressure gauge is connected to the degassing tank; a transparent connector connects the bottom and top of the degassing tank; a heating device; a resin collection container after degassing is connected to the output end of the degassing tank via a third pipe, and the resin collection container after degassing is connected to the vacuum pump via a fourth pipe; the liquid level in the resin collection container after degassing is lower than the lowest point of the degassing tank. The degassing device and method of this invention can determine the optimal degassing depth for different resins at a specific temperature and can effectively reduce the bubble content of the mixed resin, thereby reducing the porosity of the composite material product injected with the degassed resin and improving the quality of vacuum injection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of composite material molding and resin application, and particularly to a degassing device and method for vacuum-infused resin of composite materials. Background Technology

[0002] Commonly used resin degassing chambers only have simple heating and vacuuming functions, and the operation is relatively complicated. Each time degassing is performed, the resin barrel with the prepared resin can be placed into the degassing chamber in advance, and once it is placed in, the amount of resin to be degassed cannot be adjusted. In particular, when the temperature or type of resin is different, it is not possible to adjust the degassing resin parameters such as resin degassing amount and resin degassing time in real time.

[0003] Generally, the deeper the resin, the longer the degassing time. However, in reality, it is impossible to guarantee a small degassing depth by infinitely expanding the size of the degassing box and container. The higher the resin temperature, the shorter the reaction time and the shorter the degassing time. In this case, degassing in small batches and multiple times is required. Traditional degassing box degassing operations are cumbersome and not conducive to high-frequency, small-batch degassing.

[0004] Different resins have different viscosities, and even when the viscosity of the same resin changes, traditional degassing boxes cannot adjust the degassing amount by simply observing the changes. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a degassing device for vacuum-infused resin of composite materials, comprising:

[0006] Debubbling tank, including input and output terminals;

[0007] The undegassed resin container is connected to the input end of the degassing tank via a first pipeline;

[0008] A vacuum pump is connected to the degassing tank via a second pipeline;

[0009] A first pressure gauge is connected to the degassing tank;

[0010] A transparent communicating vessel connects the degassing tank;

[0011] A heating device for heating the resin inside the degassing tank.

[0012] The degassing resin collection container is connected to the output end of the degassing tank via a third pipeline, and the degassing resin collection container is connected to the vacuum pump via a fourth pipeline;

[0013] The liquid level in the deaerated resin collection container is lower than the lowest point of the resin in the deaerated barrel.

[0014] As a preferred technical solution, the heating device is a heating box, the degassing tank is located inside the heating box, and the transparent connector passes through the heating box and is connected to the degassing tank.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution, the heating box heats the degassing tank by heat conduction or microwave heating.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution, the pressure resistance of the transparent connector is ≤-0.1MPa.

[0017] As a preferred technical solution, a first control valve is provided on the first pipeline.

[0018] As a preferred technical solution, the third pipeline is equipped with a second control valve and a third control valve.

[0019] As a preferred technical solution, the degassing tank is provided with a first vent valve, and the resin collection container after degassing is provided with a second vent valve.

[0020] As a preferred technical solution, the degassing device also includes an electronic scale for weighing the weight of each batch entering the degassing tank.

[0021] A second aspect of the present invention provides a degassing method, the degassing method employing the above-described degassing apparatus, comprising the following steps:

[0022] S1. A vacuum pump is used to evacuate the degassing tank, and the vacuum level inside the degassing tank is monitored in real time.

[0023] S2. The mixed resin is fed from the undegassed resin container into the degassed tank, and the heating device heats the resin in the degassed tank to the target temperature.

[0024] S3. Keep the vacuum pump running and begin degassing the resin in the degassing tank;

[0025] S4. Debubbling is complete once no obvious bubbles are visible in the transparent communicating vessel.

[0026] S5. The resin in the degassing tank is fed into the resin collection container after degassing.

[0027] As a preferred technical solution, the vacuum degree in step S1 is ≤-0.09MPa.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0029] (1) The degassing device and degassing method of the present invention can find the optimal degassing depth of different resins at a specific temperature, and can effectively reduce the bubble content of the mixed resin, thereby reducing the porosity of the resin-infused composite material products after degassing and improving the quality of vacuum infusion.

[0030] (2) The present invention allows for real-time observation of the resin degassing in the degassing box through the transparent connecting tube in the degassing device, thereby flexibly determining the degassing quantity and degassing time;

[0031] (3) The degassing device of the present invention can adjust the diameter of the degassing tank. By selecting degassing tanks of different diameters, the amount of degassing that can be degassed each time can be adjusted.

[0032] (4) The degassing device of the present invention can continuously perform degassing work by controlling the amount of resin entering the degassing tank each time, thereby realizing the continuous export of degassing resin. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the degassing device of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the degassing method of the present invention.

[0035] Reference numerals: 1. Degassing tank; 101. First vent valve; 2. Undegassed resin container; 3. First pipeline; 301. First control valve; 4. Vacuum pump; 401. Second pipeline; 5. First pressure gauge; 6. Transparent connector; 7. Degassed resin collection container; 8. Third pipeline; 801. Second control valve; 802. Third control valve; 803. Second vent valve; 9. Fourth pipeline; 901. Fourth control valve; 10. Second pressure gauge; 11. Heating chamber; 12. Electronic scale. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] Combination Figure 1 This embodiment provides a degassing device for vacuum-infused resin of composite materials, comprising:

[0039] Debubbling tank 1 includes an input end and an output end;

[0040] The undegassed resin container 2 contains the mixed resin and the matching curing agent (i.e., mixed resin), and is placed on an electronic scale 12. The electronic scale 12 is used to weigh the weight M of the mixed resin entering the degassed tank 1 each time. Based on the bottom area S of the degassed tank 1, the weight M of the mixed resin entering the degassed tank, and the density ρ of the mixed resin, the resin depth h in the tank is calculated as: h = M / (S) ρ).

[0041] The unde-de-aerated resin container 2 is connected to the input end of the de-aerated tank 1 through the first pipe 3. The first pipe 3 is equipped with a first control valve 301. The unde-aerated resin flows from the unde-aerated resin container 2 into the de-aerated tank 1 through the first pipe 3. The first control valve 301 works in conjunction with the electronic scale 12 to control the amount of resin entering the de-aerated tank in real time.

[0042] The vacuum pump 4 serves two purposes: firstly, it draws out the air from the device to ensure a vacuum environment for degassing; secondly, it provides the power for resin degassing. The vacuum pump 4 is connected to the degassing tank 1 through the second pipeline 401, which draws out the air from the device.

[0043] The first pressure gauge 5 is connected to the degassing tank 1, and the pressure inside the degassing tank 1 is monitored in real time by the first pressure gauge 5.

[0044] A heating device is used to heat the resin in the degassing tank. More specifically, the heating device is a heating box 11.

[0045] A transparent connector 6 connects the bottom and top of the degassing tank 1. Furthermore, the transparent connector 6 passes through the heating box 11 and is connected to the degassing tank 1. Because it connects the bottom and top of the degassing tank 1, the state inside the transparent connector 6 and the state inside the degassing tank 1 can be kept consistent. The resin in the degassing tank 1 flows from the bottom to the bottom of the transparent connector 6, allowing observation of the degassing status of the resin in the degassing tank 1. When no obvious bubbles emerge from the resin in the transparent connector, it can generally be determined that the resin degassing is complete. Generally, the mixed resin has a certain operating time. For example, the operating time for 1564 at 25℃ is 1 hour, and product filling requires 40 minutes. The degassing time must be less than 20 minutes. Including the time for transfer, if no obvious bubbles emerge from the resin within about 10 minutes, the degassing amount is suitable.

[0046] Furthermore, the pressure resistance of the transparent communicating vessel 6 is ≤-0.1MPa. Since the state of the transparent communicating vessel 6 is consistent with that inside the degassing tank, it needs to have good pressure resistance to ensure that the transparent communicating vessel 6 is stable throughout the degassing process.

[0047] This embodiment does not impose any special limitations on the material of the transparent communicating vessel 6; for example, it can be polyurethane, glass, etc.

[0048] The resin collection container 7 after degassing is connected to the output end of the degassing tank 1 through the third pipeline 8, and the resin collection container 7 after degassing is connected to the vacuum pump 4 through the fourth pipeline 9.

[0049] A fourth control valve 901 is installed on the fourth pipeline 9 to open or close the connection between the vacuum pump 4 and the degassing resin collection container.

[0050] The degassing tank 1 is located inside the heating box 11. The resin undergoes vacuum degassing in this area. The diameter of the degassing tank 1 can be adjusted according to requirements. The material of the degassing tank 1 is not subject to special restrictions and can be steel or aluminum.

[0051] The working time of the mixed resin varies at different temperatures. For the same resin, the higher the temperature, the shorter the working time, and the shorter the effective degassing time. To determine the optimal degassing depth and time for different resins at a specific temperature, different depths of resin can be set using degassing tanks of different diameters. This allows for the selection of the optimal degassing depth and time for the resin at a specific temperature, providing the best degassing parameters for production and thus improving the efficiency and quality of infusion.

[0052] When the diameter of the degassing tank is fixed, the degassing depth can be indirectly controlled by controlling the weight of resin entering the tank. For the same resin, the lower the depth, the faster the degassing speed. Similarly, by replacing the degassing tank with one having a larger bottom area, a greater weight of resin can be degassed each time for the same resin depth. The technical solution of this invention can effectively control high-frequency, small-volume degassing, and can also achieve degassing of a larger quantity of resin at once, which can be flexibly adjusted according to different requirements.

[0053] This invention does not impose any special restrictions on the type of resin; any resin suitable for vacuum infusion can be degassed using this degassing device.

[0054] The degassing temperature can be adjusted according to different resins. The resin in the degassing tank 1 is heated by the heating chamber 11. However, since the degassing environment is a vacuum, traditional heating methods struggle to concentrate heat transfer, potentially leading to uneven resin temperature within the degassing tank 1 and affecting the degassing effect. In this application, the degassing tank 1 is located inside the heating chamber 11, and the heating method is heat conduction or microwave heating. This allows heat to be concentrated more quickly within the degassing tank 1, improving heating efficiency and ensuring the resin has a suitable degassing temperature, resulting in a superior degassing effect.

[0055] Furthermore, the heating chamber 11 is equipped with a door for easy replacement of the degassing tank or inspection of the interior.

[0056] The liquid level in the deaerated resin collection container 7 is lower than the lowest point of the resin in the deaerated tank 1. This design allows the resin to flow from the deaerated tank 1 to the deaerated resin collection container 7 by gravity when the pressure environment in the deaerated resin collection container 7 and the deaerated tank 1 is equal.

[0057] The third pipeline 8 is equipped with a main pipeline and a sub-pipeline. One end of the main pipeline is connected to the output end of the degassing tank 1, and the other end of the main pipeline is connected to the resin collection container 7 after degassing. One end of the sub-pipeline is connected to the main pipeline, and the other end of the sub-pipeline is connected to the air.

[0058] The second control valve 801 is installed on the main pipe of the third pipeline 8 and is used to open and close the main pipe. The third control valve 802 is installed on the sub-pipe of the third pipeline 8 and is used to open or close the air supply.

[0059] Furthermore, it is worth noting that this application connects the vacuum pump 4 to the deaerated resin collection container 7. During the deaeration process, the air in the deaerated resin collection container 7 is extracted, making the pressure environment of the deaeration tank 1 and the deaerated resin collection container the same. Then, by utilizing the fact that the liquid level in the deaerated resin collection container 7 is lower than the lowest point of the resin in the deaeration tank 1, the height difference between the two causes the deaerated resin to flow into the deaerated resin collection container. This solution can ensure that the deaeration tank 1 is in a vacuum state for a long time, without the need to re-vacuum each time, and can continuously perform deaeration, greatly improving production efficiency.

[0060] The degassing tank 1 is equipped with a first vent valve 101, and the degassing resin collection container 7 is equipped with a second vent valve 803. The first vent valve 101 remains closed during the degassing process of the degassing tank 1 and remains open after degassing, thus making it easy to open the lid of the degassing tank. The second vent valve 803 can balance the internal and external air pressure of the degassing resin collection container 7. By using the second vent valve 803, the internal and external pressure of the degassing resin collector 7 is made consistent, so that the lid of the degassing resin collector 7 can be opened smoothly, and the degassed resin can be taken out smoothly.

[0061] A second pressure gauge 10 is connected to the resin collection tank 7 after degassing to monitor the pressure inside the resin collection tank 7 in real time.

[0062] The working principle of the device is as follows: A vacuum pump 4 is used to evacuate the degassing tank 1. After the required vacuum environment is reached, the resin is drawn from the undegassed resin container 2 into the degassing tank 1 under vacuum negative pressure through the first pipeline 3. At the same time, the amount of resin entering the degassing tank 1 is controlled in real time by the electronic scale 12 and the first control valve 301. When the resin in the degassing tank 1 reaches the target weight, the first control valve 301 is closed, the vacuum pump 4 is kept on, and the resin in the degassing tank 1 is heated to the target temperature by the heating box 11 to start degassing. At the same time, the third control valve 801 and the second vent valve 803 are closed, and the fourth control valve 901 is opened, and the resin is drawn through the vacuum pump 4 via the first pipeline 3. The fourth pipeline 9 extracts air from the deaerated resin collection container 7, and the fourth control valve 901 controls the opening or closing of the fourth pipeline. Simultaneously, the second pressure gauge 10 monitors the pressure inside the deaerated resin collection container 7, ensuring the pressure inside 7 matches the pressure inside the deaeration tank 1. Once no obvious bubbles emerge from the resin in the transparent communicating vessel 6, deaeration is complete. The second control valve 801 is then opened, allowing the resin in the deaeration tank 1 to flow into the deaerated resin collection container 7 via the third pipeline 8, thus obtaining the deaerated resin. Air is then introduced through the second vent valve 803 to open the deaerated resin collection container, allowing the deaerated resin to be removed for timely vacuum infusion. This embodiment's device can determine the optimal deaeration depth of a specific infusion resin within 10-20 minutes at different temperatures by adjusting deaeration tanks of different diameters.

[0063] Example 2

[0064] Combination Figure 2 This embodiment provides a degassing method, which takes an epoxy resin as an example, but is not intended to limit the specific implementation of the present invention.

[0065] A degassing method using the degassing apparatus of Example 1 includes the following steps:

[0066] S1. Mix epoxy resin 1564 and curing agent 3487 at a weight ratio of 100:34. Place the mixed resin on an electronic scale, close the first control valve and the second control valve, and turn on the vacuum pump to vacuum the degassing tank.

[0067] S2. When the reading of the first pressure gauge is ≤-0.09MPa, open the first control valve to draw the resin in the undegassed resin container into the degassed tank under vacuum. When the resin in the degassed tank reaches the target weight, close the first control valve.

[0068] S3. Keep the vacuum pump on and start degassing the resin in the degassing tank. Close the third control valve and the second vent valve. Set the temperature of the heating box to 25°C. Open the fourth control valve to extract the air from the degassing resin collection container. The second pressure gauge monitors the vacuum level in the degassing resin collection container to be the same as that in the degassing tank.

[0069] S4. After observing the resin through a transparent communicating vessel for 15 minutes, degassing is complete when there are no obvious bubbles inside.

[0070] S5. Open the second control valve to allow the resin in the degassing tank to flow into the resin collection container after degassing.

[0071] Based on the type of resin in this embodiment, the degassing tank is set to have a diameter of 800 mm, the weight of resin pumped into the degassing tank each time is 56.2 kg, and the resin depth in the degassing tank is 10 mm.

[0072] The mixing temperature of the resin is 23-27℃, therefore the temperature of the heating chamber is set to 25℃.

[0073] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of defoaming, characterized by, Implemented using a degassing device. The defoaming device includes: Debubbling tank, including input and output terminals; The undegassed resin container is connected to the input end of the degassing tank via a first pipeline; A vacuum pump is connected to the degassing tank via a second pipeline; A first pressure gauge is connected to the degassing tank; A transparent communicating vessel connects the degassing tank; A heating device for heating the resin inside the degassing tank; The deaerated resin collection container is connected to the output end of the deaeration tank via a third pipeline, and the deaerated resin collection container is connected to the vacuum pump via a fourth pipeline; the deaerated resin collection container is connected to the vacuum pump via a fourth pipeline; a fourth control valve is provided on the fourth pipeline; Wherein, the liquid level in the degassing resin collection container is lower than the lowest point of the resin in the degassing tank; The first pipeline is equipped with a first control valve; The third pipeline is equipped with a second control valve and a third control valve; The defoaming method includes the following steps: The first and second control valves are closed, and the vacuum pump performs vacuuming on the degassing tank, while the vacuum level inside the degassing tank is monitored in real time. Open the first control valve to allow the mixed resin to be fed from the undegassed resin container into the degassed tank. Once the resin in the degassed tank reaches the target weight, close the first control valve. The heating device heats the resin in the degassed tank to the target temperature. Keep the vacuum pump running to begin degassing the resin in the degassing tank. Close the third control valve and the second vent valve, and open the fourth control valve. Debubbling is complete once no obvious air bubbles are visible in the transparent communicating vessel. Open the second control valve, and the resin in the degassing tank will be fed into the degassed resin collection container under the action of gravity.

2. The defoaming method according to claim 1, characterized by, The vacuum degree inside the degassing tank is ≤-0.09MPa.

3. The defoaming method according to claim 1, characterized by, The heating device is a heating box, the degassing barrel is located inside the heating box, and the transparent connector passes through the heating box and is connected to the degassing barrel.

4. The degassing method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The heating box heats the degassing tank by heat conduction or microwave heating.

5. The degassing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure resistance of the transparent connector is ≤-0.1MPa.

6. The degassing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The degassing tank is equipped with a first vent valve, and the resin collection container after degassing is equipped with a second vent valve.

7. The degassing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The degassing device also includes an electronic scale for weighing the amount of material entering the degassing tank each time.

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