Thermal design of resistively heated tools for composite manufacturing

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) molds, which are applied in carbon composite processing, offer the benefit of a similar thermal expansion in tool and part, low weight and low energy consumption. However, thermal sensitivity of CFRP tools is one of the main reasons hindering their widespread application in the industry to date. The utilization of a multi-zonal electrical heating system enables a direct heat introduction with low thermal lag and the possibility to overcome potential thermal gradients during cure, originating from the tool material, thanks to a locally adjustable heat introduction. In order to support the industry in making use of the benefits of CFRP tools, this work investigates the potential of a homogeneously curing of parts induced by resistively heated CFRP molds and provides numerical methods for their exploitation.