Microwave innovation for industrial composite fabrication - the HEPHAISTOS technology

Summary form only given, as follows. A novel automated 2.45 GHz microwave processing system HEPHAISTOS (High Electromagnetic Power Heating Autoclave InSeT Oven System) for small and medium sized structural parts of CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastics) has been developed at IHM. The current system integrates advantageously the basic processing steps as tooling, tempering of the resin, the impregnation of the fibres as well as finally the curing of the laminate. The main hardware contribution of the development is realized for a specific modular applicator containment providing an excellent homogeneous electromagnetic field distribution, which is applied as an upgrade tool for conventional autoclave systems. The fabrication process can be performed pressurized or at standard conditions. The process is measured remotely by sensors and can be fully automized.