Molding press is used to form phenolic resin impregnated glass fiber cloth into a high-density, cylindrical-ring laminate. The press applies clamping pressure and heat to a mold containing the glass fiber cloth laminate, which has hydrostatic pressure applied to it by means of a specially designed pressure plug

Haraway, W. M.

Heier, W. C.

King, C. B.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

March 1968	 Brief 68-10092 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Molding a High-Density Laminate 
Epoxy 
Silicone Rubber
	 Resin	 Hydraulic Line 
Press Platen
Insulation 
Aluminum Disc	 Heating Coils 
Aluminum Mold Ring 
Fiberglass Laminate 
The problem: 
To mold phenolic resin impregnated fiberglass cloth 
in the form of a high-density, cylindrical-ring laminate 
for use as a structural component. 
The solution: 
Use of a molding press to apply clamping pressure 
and heat to a mold containing the fiberglass cloth 
laminate, which has hydrostatic pressure applied to it 
by means of a specially designed pressure transfer 
plug. 
How it's done: 
The mold and its function are rather straightfor-
ward and well known in the art. The specially designed 
pressure transfer plug gives this molding technique a 
certain novelty. It consists mainly of a heavy-duty 
innertube (such as used in small vehicle tires), a
hydraulic line, a silicone rubber casting, and an alumi-
num insert that fits within the innertube and provides 
a passageway for the hydraulic line. It also has an 
epoxy resin potting about the hydraulic line within 
the insert. 
The impregnated fiberglass cloth is applied and 
shaped to the inner surfaces of the molding ring which 
has been coated with a parting agent. The hand Iayup 
is conventional, forming a number of butt-jointed sec-
tions per layer and sufficient layers with staggered 
butt-joints to form the desired lamination thickness. 
Two layers of teflon film are placed on the inside 
surface of the laminate arranged in the same manner. 
The innertube is placed in the center with its alum-
inum insert and void-free silicone rubber is cast 
between the laminate and insert, encapsulating the 
innertube. The mold is next closed and heat applied 
(continued overleaf( 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
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to the press heating platens and mold coils. When 
attached instrumentation indicates proper molding 
temperature has been reached, hydraulic pressure 
(about 450 psi) is applied to the transfer plug inner-
tube and to the laminate through the silicone rubber 
casting.
Note: 
Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Langley Station 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Reference: B68-10092 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: C. B. King, W. M. Haraway, 
and W. C. Heier 
(LAR-10051) 
Brief 68-10092	 Category 03


Molding a high-density laminate

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