ARTICLE RI-5
SPECIAL INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
FOR CONTACT MOLDING
RI-500 CHECK OF CONTACT-MOLDING
PROCEDURE SPECIFICATION
QUALIFICATION
The Inspector shall examine the Fabricator’s Proce-
dure Specification and shall determine that the procedure
for the contact-molding process has been properly quali-
fied as required by Part RQ.
RI-501 Additional Tests
At his discretion, the Inspector shall have the right
to call for and witness additional tests of the contact-
molding procedure and of the vessel as fabrication
progresses.
RI-502 Check of Fiber Weight
The Inspector shall verify that the fiber weight of
the composite structure and supplementary pads at
openings conforms to the requirements of RF-500.
RI-503 Check of Form of Reinforcement
The Inspector shall verify that the fiber reinforcement
used in the shell and in the heads conforms to the
requirements of RF-510.
RI-504 Check of Fabrication Procedures
The Inspector shall verify that the laminating se-
quence, cure system, method of component attachments,
and overall quality correspond to those stipulated in
the qualified Procedure Specification.
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RI-505 Check of Cure
(a) The Inspector shall satisfy himself by suitable
hardness tests or by other means that the contact-
molded composite structure has been properly cured.
(b) A post cure, after removal of the vessel from the
mold, if required, shall be for the time and temperature
specified in the qualified Procedure Specification (see
Form Q-108) and shall be verified by the Inspector.
RI-506 Check of Uniformity of Heating for
Post Cure of Vessel if Required
The Inspector may require the Fabricator to demon-
strate that operation of the heating system provides
uniform heating over the entire surface of the vessel
during cure. The temperature shall not differ by more
than 610°F (65.6°C) from the cure temperature speci-
fied in the qualified Procedure Specification (see Form
Q-108).
RI-510 VISUAL INSPECTION
Where possible, the Inspector shall inspect both the
inside and outside of the pressure vessel. He shall
examine the vessel for the following imperfections:
indentations, cracks, porosity, air bubbles, exposed fi-
bers, lack of resin, excess resin, thin areas, wrinkling,
uniformity of seal surface, and delamination (see RT-
411, RT-412, and RT-413).
RI-511 Tests and Retests
The physical property tests of specimens of material,
hydrostatic or pneumatic leakage tests, cyclic pressure
and hydrostatic qualification pressure tests, and any
permitted retests, all stipulated in Part RT, shall be
documented and certified by the Fabricator and verified
by the Inspector.
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