Capabilities

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) & Light Resin Transfer Molding (LRTM):

is a composites processing method that offers a high potential for tailorability but is currently limited to low-viscosity (easily flowing) thermosetting polymers. In RTM, a textile preform—made by braiding, weaving, or knitting fibres together in a specified design—is placed into a mold, which is then closed and injected with a resin. After consolidation, the mold is opened and the part removed. Preforms can be made in a wide variety of architectures, and several can be joined together during the RTM process to form a multi-element preform offering reinforcement in specific areas and load directions.

Compression Molding

A method of molding in which the molding material, generally preheated, is first placed in an open, heated mold cavity. The mold is closed with a top force or plug member, pressure is applied to force the material into contact with all mold areas, and heat and pressure are maintained until the molding material has cured. The process employs thermosetting resins in a partially cured stage, either in the form of granules, putty-like masses, or preforms. Compression molding is a high-volume, high-pressure method suitable for molding complex, high-strength fiberglass reinforcements. Advanced composite thermoplastics can also be compression molded with unidirectional tapes, woven fabrics, randomly orientated fiber mat or chopped strand. The advantage of compression molding is its ability to mold large, fairly intricate parts. Compression molding produces fewer knit lines and less fiber-length degradation than injection molding.

Filament Winding:

is a fabrication technique for creating composite material structures. The process involves winding filaments under varying amounts of tension over a male mold or mandrel. The mandrels rotate while a carriage moves horizontally, laying down fibers in the desired pattern. The most common filaments are carbon or glass fiber and are coated with synthetic resin as they are wound. Once the mandrel is completely covered to the desired thickness, the mandrel is placed in an oven to solidify (set) the resin. Once the resin has cured, the mandrel is removed, leaving the hollow final product.

Open Mold Spray Up:

is similar to the hand lay-up process. The difference comes from the application of the fiber and resin material to the mold. Spray-up is an open-molding composites fabrication process where resin and reinforcements are sprayed onto a reusable mold. The resin and glass may be applied separately or simultaneously "chopped" in a combined stream from a chopper gun. Workers roll out the spray-up to compact the laminate. Wood, foam, or other core material may then be added, and a secondary spray-up layer imbeds the core between the laminates. The part is then cured, cooled, and removed from the mold.

Open Mold Hand Lay-up:

is an open-molding composites fabrication process where reinforcements are cut and hand laid onto a reusable mold. Catalyzed Resin is then applied, saturating the reinforcements. Workers roll out the resin and reinforcement to compact the laminate. Wood, foam, or other core material may then be added, and a secondary layer imbeds the core between the laminates. The part is then cured, cooled, and removed from the mold.

Capabilities Overview

Blair Composites offers a variety of custom products and services to help fit the needs of our customers. We are able to conceptualize and design products to tailor them to individual projects. Advanced techniques and processes in tooling, pattern fabrication, and innovative design opens up opportunities for a wide variety of applications with standard and non-standard requirements. With the ability to make “on-the-fly” changes Blair Composites is able to not only meet our customer’s needs up front, but also continually make improvements to accommodate a dynamic world market.

Beyond the design and implementation of production, we offer processes to best fit the requirements of our customers. Ranging from standard open mold spray up and hand layup, to RTM , press molding, and vacuum bagging, we are capable of using the best practice for each product line, based on how the product will be used, quantities needed, and value. Blair Composites’ experience and expertise helps utilize all available technology to create products to exceed customer expectations and that we can be proud to stand behind.