Patent ID: 8377248

Claim:
A method of forming a composite part having an external surface and an internal surface, the method comprising: placing composite material around a mandrel having a hollow inner area; inserting an internal impermeable membrane into the hollow inner area of the mandrel; placing an external impermeable membrane around at least a portion of the composite material; sealing portions of the internal impermeable membrane to portions of the external impermeable membrane forming an airtight envelope around the mandrel and the composite material; removing air from between the internal impermeable membrane and the external impermeable membrane such that the internal and external impermeable membrane compress the mandrel and composite material toward each other; heating the mandrel, the composite material, and the impermeable membranes to cure the composite material, thereby forming the composite part; and removing the internal and external impermeable membranes and the mandrel from the composite part.