Heat transfer and temperature distribution of laminated fiber composite block constructed by using autoclave molding and hot pressing process

Abstract

Paper presented to the 10th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Florida, 14-16 July 2014.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) composite materials employed for the number of years in space shuttle program have also gained popularity in other variety of industrial components requiring to be lightweight, but strong enough to withstand harsh mechanical and thermal loading conditions. A rigid structure is necessary to manufacture any mechanical part using the composite materials. The sole goal of this study is to investigate heat transfer phenomena and temperature distribution of a carbon fiber block fabricated by laminating epoxy-bonded carbon fiber sheets (prepreg) during curing them to bind together into a solid block. Two different curing methods of the hot press and autoclave were applied to create the carbon fiber block. The heat transfer phenomena including conduction, convection, and radiation during the process must be better understood because inhomogeneous temperature distribution over the carbon fiber block that affects melting and solidifying of resin could cause serious defect of the block. In this study, simulation studies were carried out for evaluating the temperature distribution inside the CFRP composite block, and the simulation results were validated with experimental data.