"Rapid APG", a new technique to reduce cycle times in the processing of epoxy casting systems

Nowadays the automatic pressure gelation (APG) process is a well established and indispensable method for producing all kind of insulating parts for the high voltage engineering industry. In comparison to the APG process, the new rapid automatic pressure gelation (RAPG) process allows shorter cycle times by heating the casting resin system prior to its injection into the mold. This preheating of the reactive mass is achieved by means of microwaves. Preheating the casting resin compound leads beside of the advantage of higher productivity to additional benefits like improved quality consistency and reduced touch up work. The achievable reduction in cycle times can be estimated by using new computer programs which allow to simulate the APG and RAPG process. Computer simulation of these processes is an efficient tool to achieve a cost-effective production.