Composite Integration has completed a three-year process development programme with Artemis Technologies to establish a repeatable resin infusion process for a critical structural composite component used in the company’s electric hydrofoil vessels. The work focused on achieving high laminate quality while reducing manufacturing time and preparing the component for repeatable production.
The programme addressed the challenges of manufacturing thick carbon fibre-epoxy laminates for a safety-critical marine application. The partners refined resin infusion parameters and validated manufacturing methods to produce laminate quality comparable to prepreg manufacture. The optimised process also reduced production time compared with the previous prepreg-based approach.
To develop the process, Composite Integration combined its resin infusion expertise with a customised CIJECT® 2 resin infusion system. The equipment uses integrated resin tanks to support controlled resin delivery and process consistency. This configuration helps regulate the infusion process and reduce operator-dependent variability during component manufacture.
Resin infusion involves drawing liquid resin into dry fibre reinforcement placed within a sealed mould. For thick carbon fibre laminates, resin flow, impregnation and process control are important to achieving consistent material quality throughout the component. The development programme focused on refining these parameters to establish a stable manufacturing method suitable for repeated production.
The project also improved control over critical manufacturing variables and increased confidence in producing the component consistently as production requirements grow. Moving from a successful prototype to a repeatable process is particularly important for safety-critical marine structures, where laminate quality and manufacturing reliability must be maintained across multiple parts.
Andy Cawsey, Associate Director for Composite Technology at Artemis Technologies, said: “Working with Composite Integration enabled us to optimise a challenging resin infusion process for a critical structural composite component. The combination of process expertise and the customised CIJECT® system has helped us establish a repeatable manufacturing process that supports both quality and future production.”
The programme supports Artemis Technologies’ development of zero-emission electric hydrofoil vessels, which use lightweight composite structures alongside hydrofoil technology and intelligent control systems. Reducing composite component manufacturing time while maintaining laminate quality could help the company progress toward higher-volume vessel production.
The collaboration demonstrates how process development and controlled resin delivery can help transfer demanding composite components from development into production. The next step is to apply the validated process to support repeatable manufacturing as Artemis Technologies advances its electric vessel programmes.
Sources: Composite Integration | News
