Comparism of Cure Modeling of Unsaturated Polyester Based Composites Using Microwave and Autoclave Assisted Hand Lay-Up Process in Cylinderical Mould

Abstract

Modeling of composite curing process is required prior to composite production as this would help in establishing correct production parameter and method of curing thereby eliminating costly trial and producing an effective method of curing a particular polymeric composite. The main objective of this work is to compare the difference between modeled microwave and conventional autoclave heating methods in producing polyester-aluminum and polyester- carbon black composites. This will establish the effectiveness of a curing method in the production of a particular polymer composite i. e, prediction of best possible trends during microwave and conventional autoclave heating with regards to effect of heating rate on degree of cure of the composites. The numerical models were constructed by taking into account heat transferred by electromagnetic energy (microwave) and heat transferred by conduction (conventional autoclave) through the resin/filler mixture, as well as kinetic heat generated by cure reaction. The numerical solution of the mathematical models presented were discretized using forward finite differences of the RungeKuta method and finally solved using MATLAB® Computer programming language. It was observed that curing of the samples was achieved faster in microwave than conventional autoclave method as microwave heat transfer by electromagnetic energy produces volumetric heat flow as compared to conventional autoclave whose heat transfer by conduction generates transverse heat flow to the samples. This implies that in the production process of polymer-matrix composites, electromagnetic energy through microwave was able to produce faster heating rate; thus, an effective method of curing in the production process of polymer-metal composites.