RAT (Reverse Autoclave Technology), a reverse autoclave, is the curing of composites in an oven whose chamber is under vacuum, with infrared heaters and the laminate pressed by a pressurised bag or bladder.
The roles of pressure and vacuum are swapped compared with an autoclave: compressed gas is only in the bag or bladder, not in the whole chamber. The vacuum around the part helps to degas the laminate, and infrared radiation heats the mould and the laminate without heating a large volume of gas.
Read more: RAT and prepreg – Reverse Autoclave Technology.