Microwave heated resin injector for advanced composite production

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Resin injection is crucial for manufacturing carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP).
• Aerospace applications demand efficient and safe production methods for CFRP.
• Existing methods may lack efficiency or precise control during resin infiltration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, compact, and automated microwave (MW) injector for resin infiltration.
• To ensure efficient and safe energy transfer from the MW source to the resin.
• To achieve homogeneous infiltration through an optimized electromagnetic field structure.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 2.45 GHz MW injector system.
• Optimization of injector cavity geometry using low-power measurements with a vector network analyzer.
• Integration of temperature monitoring and automated MW power switching.
• Testing of the MW injector with specific resin systems.

Main Results:

• The developed MW injector provides efficient and safe energy transfer.
• The system supports homogeneous infiltration due to an optimized electromagnetic field.
• Automated power switching and temperature monitoring ensure rapid response to temperature changes.
• The injector geometry was adjusted for optimal system efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The novel MW injector offers an efficient, safe, and automated solution for resin infiltration in CFRP production.
• The system's design facilitates homogeneous infiltration and rapid thermal response, suitable for high flow rates.
• This technology has potential for improving the manufacturing process of advanced composite materials for aerospace.