The overall manufacturing cycle for this part, including fabrication and curing was 14 shifts versus 48 shifts for the same part in a conventional thermal cure process. Smaller part made with glass, aramid, polyethylene and carbon fiber reinforcements that are co-cured in one cycle with electron beams. Small cylindrical tank is made with a dissolvable sand mandrel and steel pole bosses. Cure time using a production accelerator is less than one minute as opposed to over 300 minutes for conventional thermal cure. Large cylindrical tank is made with a lightweight low-cost polymer liner.
Spherical vessel is made with an aluminum liner.
Composite banding is wound over a mandrel made from ordinary packing paper.