Embossed vacuum bag, methods for producing and using said bag

A vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, said vacuum bag being capable of collapsing such that upon completion of evacuation of said vacuum bag said three-dimensional pattern relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration, said bag being produced by a method comprising the steps:

• of providing a non-porous material as a substrate;
• impressing on said substrate a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels;
• and subsequently
• forming said substrate into a vacuum bag.

A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of:

• applying a release material to a mold;
• placing on said release material a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure;
• enclosing said release material and said lay-up within a vacuum bag sealed to said mold, said vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up covered by said vacuum bag;
• evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up in intimate contact therewith;
• and
• curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.

A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of:

• applying a first release material to a mold;
• placing on said first release material a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure;
• applying a second release material to the upper surface of said lay-up;
• enclosing said lay-up and said first and second release materials within a vacuum bag sealed to said mold, said vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up and said second release material covered by said vacuum bag;
• evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up and said second release material in intimate contact therewith;
• and
• curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.

A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of:

• enclosing a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure within a vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up covered by said vacuum bag;
• evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation of the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up in intimate contact therewith;
• and
• curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.

A method of making a composite structure comprising the steps of:

• applying a release material to at least one surface of a resin impregnated lay-up comprising reinforcing fiber and uncured or partially cured resin which is to be formed into said composite structure;
• enclosing said release material and said lay-up within a vacuum bag comprising a non-porous material having impressed therein a three-dimensional pattern which defines a plurality of interconnected channels, whereby a plurality of channels are defined between said vacuum bag and the surfaces of said lay-up and said release material covered by said vacuum bag;
• evacuating said vacuum bag, whereby said vacuum bag collapses such that upon completion of said evacuation the three-dimensional pattern in said vacuum bag relaxes into a locally flat two-dimensional configuration and said vacuum bag lies flat against said surfaces of said lay-up and said release material in intimate contact therewith;
• and
• curing said resin in said lay-up to form said composite structure.