A pressure vessel for creating high temperature and high pressure environment. Autoclaves are typically used with prepreg material.

The angle between a mold cavity side wall and the parting line for the mold. Typical composite parts require a slightly larger draft angle than metal to ensure easy demolding.

The process of compacting a laminate to a specific thickness during the lay-up process. Also removes air bubbles which could be trapped in the laminate. CACF uses bags to vacuum de bulk each ply.

An arrangement of fibers where all fibers are arranged parallel to one another.

An arrangement of fibers in a woven together in a twill pattern that creates a reinforced fabric

Often seen as an external pattern where fibers are not aligned and merely placed randomly for a visual effect. There is no “forging” as this is a metallurgy term. Refer to compressed composites.

Registered trademark of DuPont. Commonly used in conversation to describe an aramid type fabric

Material manufactured by DuPont. It is a variant of an aramid and offers good fire protection and can also be used as a main constituent for an honeycomb core

Reinforcement material which is composed of spun-glass filaments. Very commonly used in the fabrication of composite parts.

How carbon fiber is measured by weight. Refered to ‘Grams per Square Meter’

Flash, also known as flashing, is excess material attached to a molded, forged, or cast product, which must usually be removed.

A split line, also known as a parting line, is the seam on a molded part that forms where the two halves of the mold separate to release the finished product

A class of polymers which react and harden in the presence of co-reactants such as amines. In composites, epoxy is generalized to be a high strength, high end application, types matrix material.

Mode of failure where plies begin to separate in a laminate structure.

A laminating kit includes carbon fiber pre- cut shapes that fit directly into the mold design and define the thickness, fiber orientation and thus the strength

Additive to a resin which is used to thicken and/or stretch the volume of a resin without adding substantial mass

Term for a template or parent mold.

The orientation, reinforcement type, and sequence of a laminate

The process of placing and orienting reinforcement material in a mold

Name for a cylindrical mold used in the filament winding process

A compound which is used on a mold surface to allow a part to be separated from the mold after it has cured.

A single layer in a laminate structure

Pre-cut and pre shaped reinforcement material

The relative change in length of the part after taken out of a mold. Typical composites shrink well under 1% of a given dimension

A decorative and structural pattern where the carbon fiber weave forms a series of V-shapes, resembling the bones of a fish

A Class A surface is the highest quality, aesthetically pleasing surface on a product, characterized by being flawlessly smooth, continuous, and free of imperfections

B surface is an invisible, functional surface on a part that is usually hidden from view, featuring engineering elements like ribs, bosses, and snap-fits

A fabric type which has in-bedded adhesive which is activated and cured by heat.

Resin transfer molding is an infusion process where catalyzed resin is injected and the laminate is compressed used a matching mold or has pressure applied. This process insures consistent part thickness and minimal voids

A laminate which is composed of two reinforced fiber skins which ‘sandwich’ a core material

Areas of a part where sufficient resin was not available. Usually characterized by dry spots

Areas of a part which have excess built up resin content.

A thin film which is used in a manufacturing process which does not stick to the cured part. This film can be used between the laminate and mold surface to help with release.