Apparatuses and methods for efficient sealing of vacuum bag seams
Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure relate to efficient sealing of vacuum bag seams for vacuum bag processing of composite parts. Vacuum bags may enclose a composite part and form a first sealed region around the composite part. The first sealed region may be sealed by vacuum bag seams to a base supporting the composite part and/or to other vacuum bags. The vacuum bag seams may be sealed with an edge sealing frame that forms a compression seal and that defines a second sealed region including the sealed seam. Vacuum applied to the second sealed region forms a vacuum moat adjacent to the seam and/or at least partially surrounding the first sealed region. Hence, minor leaks in the compressively sealed seam are mitigated by the vacuum moat and the vacuum integrity of the first sealed region is maintained despite some potential leaks in the sealed seam.
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