Services

Our services

Take advantage of our expertise and bring your company to the next level !
For years, we have assisted top aerospace and automotive companies around the world in developing new technologies for high performance, high end-valued products.

We offer process optimization services and material characterization unique in Canada.

Process Development Services

Through highly experienced numerical scientists with more than 20 years of experience, RAM offers simulation services for process analysis and optimization using our in-house tools

Our well known capabilities in process modeling offer our customers the following benefits:

Modeling of Various Composites Molding Processes

Such as Autoclave, Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), Vacuum Assisted RTM (VARTM), Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI), injection compression, RTM-Light and many other molding processes

Injection Strategy

Improvement of the injection strategy via the analysis and comparison of selected injection conditions to ensure fully filling the part in a quick and economical way

Process Optimisation

To minimize or control defects such as fabric decompaction, tool edge effects, fiber wash-out, core displacement, resin gelation or low glass transition temperature.

Elimination of Voids and Air Entrapment

Formation of voids, air entrapment and dry spots caused by improper impregnation of the fibrous reinforcement at macro and microscopic scales can be numerically predicted to optimize the molding process. Voids formed by VOC generation during resin cure can also be numerically predicted and used to improve process design parameters

Deformation prediction

We have developed an original Finite Elements software to calculate the deformation of composite parts during molding due to internal stresses. This tool predicts and optimizes the manufacturing of composite parts to reduce or even avoid deformations caused during molding by thermal mismatch or chemical shrinkage.

MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION

Using specially designed tools and in-house software packages, we are specialized in material Characterizations such as fiber permeability and compaction, porosity formation during impregnation or VOC generation, resin viscosity, gelation and cure kinetics and much more!

Permeability, dual-scale porosities fiber tortuosity are key parameters that define the quality of the injected composite part. At RAM, years of scientific research have lead to the development of unique characterization tools for fibrous reinforcements (see PERMLAB). Using these tools, we are able to characterize and select the proper fibrous reinforcement for your molding process. RAM is proud to share with you his knowledge in:

Permeabilities

In-plane and out-of-plane permeabilities of mats, non-crimp or woven fabrics and core-laminated reinforcements. Using simple but precise techniques, RAM engineers are able to quickly measure this key parameter for liquid resin injection.

Resin flow and void formation

Analysis of saturated and unsaturated resin flows and measurement of voids formation. Proper fiber impregnation, at macro and micro levels, is needed in order to obtain high-performance, high-gloss parts. The impact of voids on mechanical properties is a well recognized problem in RTM, VARTM and their variants. Unique characterization tools allow us to study and understand fundamental behaviour of resin infiltration and resin cure (see CureTool).

Fiber draping experimental analysis

Draping of dry laminates is essential to obtain constant mechanical properties along the part. Simulation softwares are today available for the numerical prediction of fibre orientation. However, expert data such as buckling angle or shearing force is required in order to avoid common prediction errors.

Resin Characterization

If you are having problems with your resin system or if you want to optimize your process, RAM has the solution. softwares chemical engineers have a recognized expertise in polymer characterization and modeling. We provide “State-of-art” thermoset characterization and tailored resin formulations to fit your needs of material quality, mechanical properties and high volume productivity.

We offer services for polymer composites characterization including rheology, cure kinetics (modulated DSC), TGA, FTIR, Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) and more. These characterizations are used by our engineers to scientifically adjust the resin formulation in response to client’s needs.

We model resin polymerization, gel time, glass transition temperature, TTT diagrams and more using our well know software CureKinetics.

We also carry out specialized in-mold measures of curing process using heat flux sensors, thermal camera or thermocouples. These measurements are used by our scientists to establish proper curing conditions of the part.