Internal Model Control of a Domestic Microwave for Carbon Composite Curing

Green, James E.; Nuhiji, Betime; Zivtins, Karlis; Bower, Matthew P.; Grainger, R; Day, Richard; Scaife, Richard J.

doi:10.1109/tmtt.2017.2693145

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Microwave curing is of great interest to the aircraft industry, due to the potential of reduction in curing time and energy. The volumetric capability facilitates heat transfer through the laminate thickness (82,121) , resulting in a faster and more uniform temperature distribution. The mechanical properties of the composite can be increased due to the stronger bonding at the fibre-matrix interface (122) .…”

Section: Curingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, with carbon fibre composites the fibres present the higher loss factor and are heated by induced currents known as induction heating. Owing to the superior energy transfer, microwaves have been applied for curing (79)(80)(81)(82)(83)(84) , three-dimensional (3D) printing (85) , joining (86)(87)(88)(89) , de-icing (90,91) , thermography (92)(93)(94)(95)(96)(97) and recycling (98,99) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review of microwave techniques used in the manufacture and fault detection of aircraft composites

Li¹,

Wang²,

Haigh³

et al. 2020

Aeronaut. j.

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Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation commonly used for telecommunications, navigation and food processing. More recently microwave technologies have found applications in fibre-reinforced polymer composites, which are increasingly used in aircraft structures. Microwave energy can be applied with low power (up to milliwatts) for non-destructive testing and high power (up to kilowatts) for heating/curing purposes. The state-of-the-art applications at high power include curing, three-dimensional (3D) printing, joining and recycling, whereas low-power microwave techniques can provide quality checks, strain sensing and damage inspection. Low-power microwave testing has the advantage of being non-contact, there is no need for surface transducers or couplants, it is operator friendly and relatively inexpensive; high-power microwave energy can offer volumetric heating, reduced processing time and energy saving with no ionising hazards. In this paper the recent research progress is reviewed, identifying achievements and challenges. First, the critical electromagnetic properties of composites that are closely related to the heating and sensing performance are discussed. Then, representative case studies are presented. Finally, the trends are outlined, including intelligent/automated inspection and solid-state heating.

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Section: Curingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of microwave techniques used in the manufacture and fault detection of aircraft composites

Li¹,

Wang²,

Haigh³

et al. 2020

Aeronaut. j.

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show abstract

“…Both microwaves operate at a frequency of 2.45 GHz and can control (from highest reading) and monitor temperature using fibre optic thermosensors FOT . The test bed is based on a Panasonic NN-CF778 system and uses a bespoke control designed to cure composite materials [28] . The EM field is generated by a single magnetron (1 kW).…”

Section: Materials and Manufacturingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This difference in heating mechanism from the test bed and the Vötsch can assist in explaining these results. The test bed introduces EM energy from the bottom plate [28] and when the GFRCE tool/CFRP laminate was trialled, heat was being transferred from the tool to the laminate. Alternatively, the EM radiation introduced into the Vötsch system is via a hexagonal configuration and not just from the one region (with one source).…”

Section: Cfrp Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tooling materials compatible with carbon fibre composites in a microwave environment

Nuhiji

Swait

Bower

et al. 2019

Composites Part B: Engineering

Self Cite

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Although metals are the most commonly used tooling materials to cure composites, they do not provide optimal results in a microwave environment. Following a selection process based on the properties of the materials, an alternative tooling material in carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) was successfully utilised to cure CFRP panels in laboratory and industrial microwaves. The conductive carbon fibres in the tool facilitated the fast heat transfer across the part. Other tooling materials including a glass fibre cyanate ester prepreg and tooling board were trialled, although the latter exhibited damage during cure. These advantages demonstrate that the CFRP tool is a compatible material that can be used when microwave curing composites.

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“…Contact-free microwave-based thermography is commonly found in the literature, in which microwaves are used as a heat source (like microwave curing [47]). When a Fig.…”

Section: Integration With Other Ndtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Principles and Applications of Microwave Testing for Woven and Non-Woven Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites: a Topical Review

Haigh

Soutis

et al. 2018

Appl Compos Mater

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Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have been increasingly used by aerospace and other industries for their high specific stiffness and strength properties. When in service, nondestructive testing (NDT) methods are required to monitor and evaluate the structural integrity. Microwave-based detection techniques offer the advantages of non-contact, no need for a coupling medium or sensors bonded to the object surface and relatively easy setup. This paper is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the currently available microwave techniques appropriate for carbon fibre/polymer composites. The electromagnetic properties of carbon fibre composites associated with microwave testing are discussed first. Then, the microwave methods are categorised into self-sensing methods, near-field induction methods, near-field resonance methods, far-field sensing methods and the methods with combination of other NDT (e.g., microwave-based thermography). Principles and applications of each kind are demonstrated in detail. Discussions of the advantages and limitations in addition to research trends of microwave testing methods are presented.

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Internal Model Control of a Domestic Microwave for Carbon Composite Curing

Cited by 13 publications

References 33 publications

Review of microwave techniques used in the manufacture and fault detection of aircraft composites

Review of microwave techniques used in the manufacture and fault detection of aircraft composites

Tooling materials compatible with carbon fibre composites in a microwave environment

Principles and Applications of Microwave Testing for Woven and Non-Woven Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites: a Topical Review

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