Effect of Heat Treatment on Curing Uniformity of Fiber Composite Laminates

A numerical simulation procedure is presented to investigate the heat transfer and temperature distribution and then predict the curing uniformity of fiber/resin composite laminates during the hot molding process. By means of a coupled thermochemical simulation of the composite material curing process, the effects of curing temperature and heating rate on curing uniformity are investigated. Compared with the curing process with lower temperature and heating rate, the curing process with higher temperature and heating rate can cure the composites much faster but generate more uneven temperature distribution. By comparatively analyzing the influencing factors of curing non-uniformity, the curing characteristics of composites are revealed distinctly, which is helpful to understand the curing mechanism and design optimal curing cycle according to specific requirements.