Rapid energy-efficient manufacturing of high-performance glass fiber reinforced polymer composites via infrared radiation

Abstract

Designing a highly efficient out-of-oven curing scheme is crucial for overcoming the challenges of reducing curing time, minimizing energy consumption, and lowering costs in composite manufacturing. Utilizing a self-developed high-emissivity flexible infrared radiation heater based on polyimide (PI) film, the proposed system delivers uniform heating across the composite. The infrared radiation curing (IRC) scheme is specifically applied to glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites and has demonstrated improvements over traditional curing schemes. The uniform heating provided by infrared radiation enhances the internal structural integrity of the material and strengthens the interfacial bonding between the glass fibers and the resin. Compared to room temperature curing (RTC), the IRC scheme shortened the curing time by 91 % while enhancing mechanical properties, with a 14.7 % increase in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and a 7.8 % improvement in flexural strength. When compared to oven heating curing (OHC), ILSS and flexural strength improved by 14.2 % and 4.9 %, respectively, with the energy consumption reduced to one-third of that required for OHC. Furthermore, the flexible design of the infrared radiation heater successfully cures thick panels and curved composite components, making it suitable for large sizes and complex geometries. The results highlight the broad potential of IRC in wind energy, aerospace, and transportation industries, offering a practical and scalable solution for advanced composite manufacturing.