Composite bladder molding

PIERCAN Usa Inc. has been selected for the 2011 Best of San Marcos Award in the Latex & Latex Product Manufacturers category by the US Commerce Association (USCA). The press release is available here.

Composite bladder molding, or internal pressure molding requires a bladder to fit the inside of the composite lay-up so equal pressure is delivered to all internal surfaces. Most of our business is molding custom shaped bladders to the composite fabricator.

Our high temperature latex is formulated for temperature resistance typical with epoxy systems.

We mold latex bladders which are used for carbon fiber parts in aerospace, sporting goods, automotive and the marine industry.

Standard tube sizes and vacuum bags are also available. Contact us for more information on designing for latex bladder molding and technical specifications.

You can Design your molds in order to obtain exactly what you need.               

Advantages of using High Temperature Latex Bladders ?

Latex is inexpensive.

It’s the least expensive elastomeric material available for curing composite parts. With our dip molding method, it’s also the easiest material to custom mold with moderate tooling costs.

Latex is re-useable.

Latex bladders are cheap enough to be disposable, but many of our customers commonly use bladders and vacuum bags several times at over 250 °F.

High pressure molding.

Latex bladders can be used with curing pressures in excess of 200 psi without expensive autoclave costs. High consolidation pressures means low void content and lower finishing costs.

No wrinkles.

The ease of making bladders and vacuum bags to fit your part eliminates bag wrinkles and produces a smooth interior finish.

Fast lay-up and cure.

Custom fitted latex bladders drop into position. No taping, sealing, or pleating. Not having to carefully fit vacuum bags or nylon tubing means faster production and lower costs.

Complex shapes.

Prototype tooling for bladders and vacuum bags can be customer-generated epoxy casts out of existing molds. Complex shapes in bladders and vacuum bags are easy to obtain.

Rapid tool cycle.

Pre-formed lay-ups and custom fitted latex bladders means that tools can be pre-heated. The process works well with fast cure epoxies and other production resin systems.