Introduction
TECNOINVAC® technology consists of the in-situ construction of pipes and pressure vessels using carbon fiber, employing a high-strength epoxy resin infusion methodology and homogeneous consolidation under vacuum pressure.
It consists of a reinforcement, fibers, which support the mechanical stresses providing rigidity and strength, and a matrix, polymer resin, which provides geometry and cohesion to the composite material and transmits the stresses from one fiber to another.
Mission
Replacing, restoring or increasing structural capacity
Its mission is to replace or restore the structural integrity lost in infrastructures, providing the same mechanical properties required at any point of the surface. Depending on the condition and the original base material, it can be considered as a lost mold, external or internal, not contributing to the support of structural loads. Likewise, its structural capacity can be increased to support flows and pressures higher than the original design ones without modifying the installation.
Process
Homogeneity in mechanical properties
The resulting assembly, homogeneous over the entire surface, solves the shortcomings and uncertainties generated by manual applications derived from the human factor, such as lack of impregnation or excess resin, air occlusions, sensitivity to delamination, lack of compaction between fiber layers, insufficient adhesion to the substrate or poor adaptation to the existing geometry.
Only the necessary amount of resin is absorbed according to the weight used in the carbon fiber, obtaining the optimum mechanical properties extracted in the calculation hypotheses.
The infusion and vacuum process generates a negative pressure through a bag that closes the regulation and control system on the resulting assembly, connected to a vacuum pumping that is maintained from the phase of introduction of the resin into the fiber, called infusion, until the end of its polymerization cycle.