When you qualify a PMI foam core manufacturer or custom PMI foam supplier for a structural program, the quoted sheet size and price per board are not the first data points that matter. A vendor earns its place on your approved list by showing how it selects density grade, predicts sandwich-core behaviour, and delivers pre-shaped cores that survive VARI, RTM, and autoclave cure cycles without surprises. This page turns each of those claims into a measurable procurement check before you send an RFQ.
Many composite teams first meet PMI foam as flat, catalog-grade board. Qualifying a custom core partner is a different exercise: you are transferring responsibility for density selection, machining quality, tolerance, and process compatibility to the supplier.
Use these three checks as a short interview script for every prospective core supplier. The answers separate vendors that sell foam from partners that engineer sandwich structures.
Does the supplier help you select the correct density grade — and back that recommendation with test data, not just a brochure?
The Rifeng W range runs from 32 to 200 kg/m³ with published compressive, tensile, flexural, and shear values. A qualified partner should discuss where each grade is appropriate and which test methods support the numbers.
Does the manufacturer understand core shear, panel stiffness, and sandwich mechanics before the core is machined or molded?
In a sandwich panel, the core carries shear loads while the faces handle bending. Shear strength from 0.40 to 5.00 MPa and shear modulus from 20 to 160 MPa across the W range are the values a good supplier should explain in the context of your layup.
Can the supplier match the core grade to your resin process, and does it understand resin uptake in VARI, RTM, or autoclave curing?
Rifeng W is a medium-cell structural foam developed for vacuum infusion. It absorbs about 35% less resin than the WH series — a relevant input for part weight, resin cost, and infusion repeatability.
Each scenario below points to a concrete product fact and a question to ask before you finalize the core specification.
A closed-cell, rigid core with excellent radiolucency so diagnostic imaging is not distorted by the table structure.
Rifeng W is described as an industry-standard core material for X-ray and CT table tops because of its radiolucency and dimensional stability.
Request a machined, pre-shaped core with verified thickness tolerance of ±0.2 mm so the imaging surface stays uniform over large panels.
Lightweight sandwich panels that carry aerodynamic and handling loads without adding mass to the airframe.
The W range is widely used in UAV structures and radomes, with density options from 32W to 200W and tensile strengths from 0.85 to 7.05 MPa.
Compare shear modulus — not just density — when the skin is thin and the panel must resist buckling under bending.
A core grade that wets out predictably and does not drink excessive resin during liquid molding.
Rifeng W is a medium-cell structural foam for vacuum infusion processes such as VARI and RTM, with about 35% less resin absorption than Rifeng WH.
Check the cure window: standard W suits curing up to 130 °C at 0.7 MPa; choose the heat-treated W-HT grade for 180 °C autoclave cycles.
Compression-resistant closed-cell foam that provides buoyancy or structural support under hydrostatic pressure.
High-density grades in the W series are suitable for underwater buoyancy materials and deep-sea engineering, with compressive strength up to 9.65 MPa at 200 kg/m³.
Specify density and compressive strength together; a high-density core changes buoyancy, machining cost, and laminate stiffness.
Closed-cell, CFC-free PMI foam with a medium cell size; fully compatible with VARI, RTM, and autoclave curing; and available as high-precision, pre-shaped, ready-to-use foam cores in simple or complex geometries.
| Typical Value | 32W | 52W | 75W | 110W | 200W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density (kg/m³) | 32 ± 7 | 52 ± 10 | 75 ± 15 | 110 ± 20 | 200 ± 20 |
| Compressive strength (MPa) | 0.40 | 0.85 | 1.75 | 3.60 | 9.65 |
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 0.85 | 1.70 | 2.30 | 3.68 | 7.05 |
| Shear strength (MPa) | 0.40 | 0.85 | 1.30 | 2.40 | 5.00 |
| Shear modulus (MPa) | 20 | 30 | 50 | 85 | 160 |
| Heat distortion (DIN 53424) | ≥200 °C | ≥200 °C | ≥200 °C | ≥200 °C | ≥200 °C |
Typical mechanical properties as published by RIFENG. Test methods: ISO 845, ISO 844, ASTM D638, ASTM C273, DIN 53424.
| Sales Range | Panel size (mm) | Thickness (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 32 W | 2500 × 1250 | 1 – 110 |
| 52 W | 2500 × 1250 | 1 – 120 |
| 75 W | 2500 × 1250 | 1 – 110 |
| 110 W | 2300 × 1250 | 1 – 90 |
| 200 W | 1900 × 900 | 1 – 60 |
Published tolerances: thickness ±0.2 mm; length and width ±2 mm. Thermoforming and CNC machining available for pre-shaped custom cores.
RIFENG supports OEM medical, UAV, marine, and composite-manufacturing programs through engineering consultation and custom core supply — not just panel sales.
Part geometry or drawing, facing material and resin system, cure temperature and pressure, panel thickness, density target, and annual volume. RIFENG uses that information to suggest a W-grade starting point and a machining or thermoforming route.
For radiolucent medical parts, mention the imaging table-top application so the correct high-precision core option is included.
Keep adjacent product options together for a faster catalog comparison.
Optimize sandwich structures with Rifeng WH coarse cell PMI foam. Features superior peel strength and co-curing stability up to 180°C for aerospace components.
View product
Optimize industrial composite structures with Rifeng WF medium cell size PMI foam. A cost-effective core material perfectly suited for prepreg and RTM processing.
View product
Enhance safety and strength with Rifeng CR self-extinguishing PMI foam. Features a coarse cell size for superior adhesion in rail, marine, and aerospace applications.
View productstart with your resin process and bonding requirement. rifeng w is a medium-cell pmi foam developed for vacuum infusion processes such as vari and rtm, and it absorbs about 35% less resin than the wh series. wh is described as a coarse-cell structural foam focused on high facing-to-core adhesion. if minimum resin uptake and predictable infusion dominate the decision, w is the likely starting point; if maximum adhesion at the bonding interface is critical, evaluate wh.
rifeng w is suitable for curing temperatures up to 130 °c and pressures up to 0.7 mpa. for autoclave programs that need a higher cure window, the heat-treated rifeng w-ht grade can withstand curing temperatures of 180 °c at 0.7 mpa. confirm your exact cure schedule with the rifeng engineering team before finalizing the grade.
yes. rifeng states that rifeng w can be thermoformed or cnc machined to meet customer requirements. the material is available as high-precision, pre-shaped, ready-to-use foam cores in simple or complex geometries. the published thickness tolerance is ±0.2 mm, with length and width tolerance of ±2 mm.
rifeng w is available in five density grades: 32w, 52w, 75w, 110w, and 200w, covering a density range up to 200 kg/m³. panel sizes and available thicknesses differ by grade; for example, 32w is sold as 2500 × 1250 mm panels in 1–110 mm thickness, while 200w is sold as 1900 × 900 mm panels in 1–60 mm thickness.
rifeng w is described as an industry-standard core material for x-ray and ct table tops because of its excellent radiolucency. a radiolucent core allows x-rays and ct imaging signals to pass through with minimal interference, so the table structure does not compromise image quality. mechanical strength and dimensional stability are still required, which is why the closed-cell rigid pmi structure is specified.
yes. the product page lists versatile processing as one of the core advantages of the grade, with compatibility for vari, rtm, and autoclave curing. standard w supports cure temperatures up to 130 °c at 0.7 mpa; the heat-treated w-ht version extends that to 180 °c at 0.7 mpa, so the same family can be evaluated across infusion and prepreg-autoclave production routes.
