This calculator is based on Darcy's law, which describes the flow of a liquid through porous media. It simplifies Darcy's law to one dimension. The permeability coefficient used in the calculation is an average value derived from years of experiments with various fabrics and vinyl ester resin. Keep in mind that the permeability coefficient depends on several factors such as fiber type, sizing, fabric structure, resin type, etc. Therefore, the calculated infusion time may have some errors for vinyl ester resin and even more errors for other resins.
Please note that this calculator is not suitable for calculating infusion times for complex geometries with different laminates. If you need to calculate infusion time for such a complex part, please reach out to me via email.
However, you can use this calculator to predict infusion time for small or simple parts. Here are the steps to follow:
1 step. Choose your laminate schedule from the provided list and select the number of layers.
2 step. Enter the resin viscosity in cPs (centipoises). The typical range for infusion resin is 100-300 cPs. You can obtain this value from the resin's Technical Data Sheet (TDS). Take into account the temperature of the resin, as viscosity has a temperature-dependent exponent. Note that the calculator does not consider changes in resin viscosity over time, which is important for epoxy-type resins.
3 step. Enter the resin gel time in minutes. You can also use the value from the resin's TDS or your actual gel time, depending on your resin's cure system.
4 step. Input the vacuum value in bar (do not use a negative sign). The typical range is 0.6-0.95 bar. This value represents the difference between atmospheric pressure and the pressure inside the vacuum bag. If you are using inches of mercury (inHg), you should convert it to bar.
5 step. Enter your name, email, company, and country in the respective fields. Then, click the "Calculate Infusion Time" button to receive the result in your email.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your calculation, feel free to email me. I'm here to help!
Using the infusion time calculator correctly enhances your efficiency and accuracy when predicting infusion times for your composite projects. Enjoy the benefits of this valuable tool while being mindful of its limitations and the factors that can affect your results.