Electrical resistance curing of carbon-fibre/epoxy composites

Carbon-fibre/epoxy resin composites were cured by the ohmic heating that results from passing an electrical current through the fibres. Additional cured composite was prepared conventionally. All samples consisted of eight-layer stacks of pre-preg, containing 38% fibre by volume. Vickers hardness measurements demonstrate that both processes lead to the same level of cross-linking. In three-point bend tests, the properties of resistance cured composite compare favourably with those of oven-cured samples. Significantly less energy is used in the process of resistance curing small samples, relative to curing in an oven or autoclave.