A comparative experiment for the analysis of microwave and thermal process induced strains of carbon fiber/bismaleimide composite materials. (16th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Nanya; Li, Yingguang; Hao, Xiaozhong; Gao, James
• Is Part Of: Composites science and technology. Volume 106(2015)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2015-01-16
• Subjects: C. Residual stress -- E. Microwave processing -- A. Polymer–matrix composites (PMCs); Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Fibrous composites; Periodicals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2014.10.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-3538

Abstract

Abstract: Carbon fiber reinforced bismaleimide composites provide many outstanding properties and are widely used in aerospace applications. However, cure-induced strains are present in virtually all composites that severely impact on the whole service lifecycle of composite components. This paper will demonstrate that the cure-induced strains can be drastically reduced in fiber/bismaleimide composites using the microwave curing process. Nearly 95% reduction of cure-induced strains has been achieved compared with the conventional thermal heating process. The microwave manufacturing cycle for composites was only 36% of the thermal processing cycle. When using the microwave process, the spring-in angle of an L-shaped part was reduced by about 1.2° compared by using thermal heating.