Technological Advantage of Resin Infusion
- clean, eliminating the emissions of chopper guns and other techniques, -- increasingly important in view of anti greenhouse gas initiatives to ban open fiberglass techniques. Infusion enclosed bagging is the way of the future
- safe, emission reduced environmentally sound system
- uses glass to resin ratios with increased strength and reduced weight
- uses quality laminates, especially when used in conjunction with laminate engineering specifications
- reduces boat weight which means reduced fuel costs
Seafest is fully equipped for the infusion process and have been constructing the new range of Given Power Catamarans by this method, using engineered specifications and high quality cloth and resin.
Vacuum infusion is now coming to the forefront of fiberglass building techniques for a number of reasons.
It is a fully controlled process, allowing accurate weight, resin to glass ratios, no air entrapment and a strong, fault free laminate.
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The infusion allows core materials to be fully wet out with resin, leaving no voids for water or air ingress. In the past using by-hand methods, voids are left in cores and difficult-to-reach areas.
In the event of damage to a laminate using the conventional method, water would enter the core and surrounding GRP causing delamination and saturation of large parts of vessels.
The vacuum infusion system eliminates this problem -- all voids are filled with resin.
Weight is critical in GRP construction. The infusion system automatically delivers exactly the correct amount of resin to the part, unlike chopper gun and hand-lay techniques which rely solely on the applicator's ability and experience.
Infusion involves everything from the plug and mould stages -- moulds are purpose built for production lines.
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