Vacuum pressurized molding

A system for forming a composite component, comprising:

• a close mold tool defining a cavity that corresponds to a shape of the composite component and configured to receive a composite material, the close mold tool further defining a passageway in fluid communication with the cavity;
• a perforated release film defining a plurality of openings and configured to be positioned on a surface of the composite material within the cavity;
• a breather configured to be positioned on the perforated release film;
• a vacuum source configured to be coupled to the passageway and to apply a vacuum to the composite material through the breather and the plurality of openings via the passageway;
• and
• a pressurized fluid source configured to be coupled to the passageway after the vacuum source has been removed from the passageway and to apply a pressurized fluid to the perforated release film through the breather via the passageway.

A method of forming a composite component, comprising:

• placing a composite material in a volume defined by a close mold tool, the close mold tool further defining a passageway in fluid communication with the cavity;
• placing a perforated release film defining a plurality of openings on the composite material;
• placing a breather on the perforated release film;
• applying a vacuum to the volume via the passageway to cause the composite material to at least partially fill the plurality of openings of the perforated release film;
• removing the vacuum from the passageway;
• and
• applying a pressurized fluid to the volume via the passageway after removing the vacuum from the passageway to apply pressure to the perforated release film and the composite material.