Vacuum bagging is a very flexible process for consolidating fibre-reinforced polymer laminates of a wide range of shapes and sizes. The composite to be consolidated (e.g. a prepreg or hand lay-up) is placed on a single-sided mould. The material is then covered with an impervious film (the “vacuum bag”), which is sealed around the edge of the part. By evacuating the air between the mould and the vacuum bag using a vacuum pump, the part is consolidated under atmospheric pressure. The process is often performed in an oven to assist with the curing of the resin. Because the vacuum bag material can be readily cut to size, it is a very flexible process in terms of the dimensions of the parts that can be consolidated.
