Natural Rubber Latex Bladders

Our Performance

PIERCAN specializes in the manufacturing and development of high-temperature natural rubber latex bladders. These bladders are used as tools to compress composite material during the curing process to form the final design. Our bladders are also used in the molding process by infusing fabrics with liquid resins.

Capabilities

Bladder Molding Process

Latex Bladder Advantages

Areas of Application

Manufacturing

The custom mold is dipped in a coagulant bath and then into a latex bath. The thickness of the bladder is controlled by the amount of time the mold is in the latex bath. After the mold has been dipped, the tool is transferred into an oven to cure. Once the bladder is cured, the final step in the process is to strip the bladder from the mold.

Creation of Composite Part

The male mandrel is dipped in a latex bath creating the latex bladder.

Carbon fiber pre-preg is placed inside female cavity prior to latex bladder.

After securing the female cavity, the bladder is heated/pressurized during the cure process.

Once the cure process is complete the bladder is deflated and removed from the final composite part.

Advantages of Latex Bladders

Reusable Bladders

Bladders can be reused multiple cycles (3 to 5 uses).

Reduced Surface Finishing

The final composite design will not need additional surface finishing once the process is completed. The final composite part will have a smooth surface finish.

Precise Control of Inner/Outer Dimensions

During the curing process, the bladder will expand to every dimension of the mold to fulfill your design needs.

Resistance

Bladders can withstand 300°F and 500 PSI while also stretching up to 500%