May2012

Bagpenetrationfittingsforcomposites

Therearevariouswaysofprovidingavacuumorresinfeedpenetrationthroughavacuumbag.Onesolutionis
torunatubeinundertheperimeterofthebagandsealingthetubeintheperimetermastic.Whilegenerally
less reliable from a sealing perspective, the bag film can also be penetrated by a tee or elbow mastic sealed
through a hole in the bag film. More reliable bag film penetrations are conical infusion ports or multipart
fittingsspecificallydesignedforthepurpose.Conicalinfusionportsprovidearigidandeasilysealedsocketfor
polyethylene vacuum tubing. If made from a suitable plastic and treated with mould release, these will be
reusable many times in resin infusion applications. Multipart bag fittings are not suited to infusion
applicationsbecausetheyarenoteasytoclean,buttheyareoftenagoodchoiceforvacuumbaggingoverwet
laidlaminateandprepreg.

Weofferbothonepieceplasticfittingsandmultipartscrewtogetherbagfittings.

Solidplasticportsforresininfusionapplications
Our infusion ports are machined from solid ultrahigh molecular
weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). This material is resistant to almost
all composite industry solvents and resins. These fittings are
designedprimarilyforresininfusion.Iftreatedpriortoeachusewith
a liquid mould release, these fittings will be reusable many times.
Infusion ports are placed on the laminate prior to application of the
bagbut,usually,theyarenotpenetrateduntilafterthebaghasbeen
evacuated.Thenormalprocedureisdescribedbelow.

1. Positiontheportsonthepart,usingmaskingtapeormastictoholdtheminpositionifnecessary.
2. Placeandsealthevacuumbagaroundtheperimeterofthepart.
3. Applyvacuumtothepartthroughonevacuumconnectiononly.Ifpossible,evacuatethebagviawhatwill
becomearesinfeedline,asthisisusuallyanareaofhighpermeability.
4. Checkthebagpositioningtoensurethatthemasticperimetersealorthebagisnotexcessivelystrained.
Adjustthebagpleatsasrequired.
5. Evacuatethebagtomaximumvacuum(unlessusingasoftcore).
6. Performapreliminaryleaktestandeliminateallleaks.
7. Reevacuatetomaximumvacuum.
8. Preparethevacuumtubingconnections,ideallywithaCLOSEDvalveinsertedineachtube.
9. Cuta one-side point on the end of the tube and wrap a ring of mastic around the tube, approximately
20 mm() above the top end of the cut.
10. Withthebagundervacuumandeachtubingvalveclosed,stabthesharpenedtubingthroughthebagand
intotheport.Aslongasthevalvesareclosed,therewillbelittleairentryastheconnectionsarestabbed
inandthebagwillcontinuetoholdvacuum.
11. Complete themasticsealaround the joint beween the tubeand the bag.
12. Ideally,leaktesteachjointasitismade.
13. Progressivelymakeandtestalljointsinthesamemanner.
14. Performafinalleaktestandproceedwiththeinfusion.

Multipartbagfittingsforwetlaidlaminateandprepregvacuumbagging
(NOTrecommendedforresininfusion)

Ourmultipartbagpenetrationfittingsaredesigned
forapplicationswhereresinwillnotcontactthe
fitting,i.e.,inapplicationswherethelimitedamount
ofexcessresincanbeabsorbedinbleederfabric
priortoreachingthefitting.Multipartfittingsare
notsuitedtoresininfusionuse.

Atpresent,ourbagfittingsareonlymadetosuit
to13mmoutsidediameter(OD)tubingdirectly.To
fitothertubingsizes,adaptingtubeswillbe
required.(Adaptingtoothertubessizesisusually
quitesimple.SeeournoteJoiningpolyethylene
tubing.)

Multipartbagfittingsarelocatedandsealedtothe
bagfilmpriortoevacuationofthebag.Thetypical
procedureisdescribedbelow.

1. Markthebagwherethefittingsaretobeplaced.
2. Removethemalethreadedglandnut,thefemalethreadedbodyringandthetopwasherfromthebase
fitting,butleavethebottomrubberwasherontheconicalbaseofthefitting.
3. Cutoutthesmallestpossibleholeinthebagforthemalethreadofthefittingtopassthrough.Asquare
cutoutapproximately20mmx20mm(justoverx)willusuallybesimplesttomake.
4. Placethebaseofthebagfittingandthebottomrubberwasherinsidethebag.
5. Placethetopwasheroverthethreadexposedoutsidethebag.Fitthefemalethreadedbodyringand
handtightenitwhileholdingthefilmaswrinklefreeaspossible.
6. Squarecut(donotanglecut)thetubetobeinsertedintothefitting.
7. FitthesmallernutovertheendofthetubeandsliptheOringoverthetube.
8. PushthetubedowntothestopintherecessandhandtightenthesmallernuttocompresstheOring.Do
nottightenexcessively,asovertighteningmaydamagetheOring.

Feedback or queries on this note?

We are keen to improve the accuracy and value of Vacmans Notes. If you have any feedback or queries
regardingthisnote,orwouldliketosuggestnewtopicstobecovered,Vacmanwouldbepleasedtohearfrom
you!PleaseemailVacman@vacmobiles.com.

C:\VABS\Art,Logos,labels&leafletscurrent\Vacman'snotesBagpenetrationfittings.docx

16DavidMcCathiePlace,POBox78,Silverdale,Auckland,NewZealand
Email:info@vacmobiles.comWebsite:www.vacmobiles.com
Tel:+6494264095Fax:+6494261902