Abstract: In this paper, a low-cost, easy-to-form water-soluble core mold was prepared and its shrinkage, compression property, water solubility and air tightness were studied. The results show that the soluble core mold prepared by quartz sand has good dimensional stability before and after molding, the compressive strength was higher than 3 MPa at room temperature to 120 ℃ and it could be quickly collapsed into the sand condition within 1 min at room temperature. The airtightness of the mold which should satisty vacuum assisted resin infusion (VARI) molding process was achieved after surface sealing treatment. The VARI process validation test was carried out on the surface of the hollow metal frame filled with water-soluble core mold. It shows that the water-soluble core mold prepared in this paper can be used as a VARI process mold which has little effect on the apparent quality of the product. The mold release is simple and convenient, and the core mold has a good application prospects.

Key words: water-soluble core, air tightness, VARI