The ISOMANDREL® is a thermally enhanced mandrel for filament winding which can replace your current mandrels. It uses Isobar technology to enhance its thermal conductivity and reactivity. Induction heat is applied on a localized section and the Isomandrel rapidly and homogenously redistributes the heat over the entire working surface.
ISOMANDREL® can remove the need for cure ovens and allow the curing process to take place on the winding station.
Compared to traditional production, curing on the Isomandrel offers efficiency and speed on a small footprint.
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Isomandrel® Technology
Isomandrels® redistribute high thermal energy uniformly over the entire mandrel surface as well as providing predictable and consistent energy input into the part during the filament winding or laying process. The result is a completed cure in a shorter time with less energy expenditure, all the while providing a much more uniform and consistent cure.
Isomandrel® Concept & Design
Isomandrels® are typically heated at one end, away from the part area of the mandrel. When heat is applied, the ISOMANDREL® instantly distributes the heat evenly along the entire length. Heating can be utilized for curing the wind on mandrel as well as pre-heating, during and after winding. While you can utilize your current oven, it may no longer be required.
Material Type(s):
Mandrel materials are typically monel or steel.
Heat Source Type(s):
Electric resistive heaters or induction heating.
Cooling Source Type(s):
Cooling can be integrated if required. Cooling type depends on the Isomandrel® design. Water can be utilized as an option.
Sensor Type(s):
Typically an IR style sensor is used to monitor temperatures
Isomandrels® For Heated Rollers
Isomandrels® can also be used as heated rollers. The homogenous temperature distribution results in higher thermal recovery speeds, enhanced deflection control and consistent product quality.
Isomandrels® Are Thermally Enhanced Mandrels
Isomandrels® – What are the benefits?
- Rapid and responsive heating and cooling, resulting in the fastest cure and strip cycles in the industry
- The ability to cure while winding
- No cure oven required
- High-speed cure rates > 25% improvement over oven curing times
- Successful cures have been achieved to >2.0” wall thickness
- The curing of resin from the inside out
- As the cure front moves away from the ID, vapors are vented through the uncured matrix into the atmosphere
- Vapors are vented resulting in minimal interlaminar porosity
- Heated vapors assist in heating the uncured matrix, moving the cure front easily and quickly through thick-walled tube sections
Isomandrel® – Key Features
- Can be heated and controlled at any set point
- Can be heated and controlled while rotating
- Has high speed heat transfer and rapid response to thermal inputs
- Is inherently isothermal, predictably uniform in surface temperature
- Absorbs and redistributes exotherms
- Can be rapidly cooled using an internal cooling technology
- Can operate in processes from ambient temperature to 650°F
Isomandrel® – Additional Features & Benefits
- Uniform predictable temperature across the entire working surface of the roll
- Uniform and predictable dimensional stability across the entire roll
- Simplified and economical control hardware
- High thermal recovery speed to heating and cooling permits much faster line speeds
- Easily heated and/or cooled while rotating
- Accurately controlled for temperature
- Isothermal working surface on heated rolls
- Can be heated by gas, oil or induction; directly or indirectly
- Localized energy from process materials is distributed over the entire roll face instead of creating a roll hot spot
- No complex piping or multiple control zones
Thermal Image Shows ISOMANDREL® Uniformity With An Induction Coil (left) On Only 4″ Of the Isomandrel