Out of Autoclave Curing of Prepreg

Out-of-autoclave (OOA) curing also known as out of autoclave curing of prepreg encompasses a wide variety of processing methods with various heating schemes, including ovens, hot presses, and heat blankets.

While all CMA prepreg systems can be cured OOA, certain resin systems have been specifically formulated for easy prepreg OOA curing and OOA manufacturing.

In many cases, in order to produce high-quality laminates without the compacting pressure provided by an autoclave, additional pressure must be applied to ensure adequate compaction and evacuation. Examples include:

• Double vacuum bagging (DVB)
• Caul plates
• Mechanical presses

Optimized systems, including 2511 and 3960, can achieve very low void content with vacuum-bag only (VBO) curing.

Contact Sales and Technical Services for more information about material and process options for non-autoclave applications in any field.