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• Fast and efficient manufacture of carbon fiber aeronautical preforms by using direct resistive heating

  A. Iriarte Legarreta, M. Segura, R. Mezzacasa, B. Canflaca

  Materiales Compuestos (2022). Vol. 07 - COMUNICACIONES MATCOMP21 (2022), (Núm. 2 - Aplicaciones Industriales - Caracterización), 172

  
  

  Abstract

  The manufacture of preforms for composite structures is predominantly carried out in large hot drape forming facilities. However, these conventional heating sources are very inefficient since a large part of the heat provided is transferred to the molds in which the preforming process is carried out. This implies long heating and cooling times. In the current context in which it is essential to reduce the carbon footprint of each component, the reduction in the energy needed and in the cycle times to obtain competitive processes is fundamental. In this context, Tecnalia has developed an advanced preforming cell for the manufacture of dry fibre preforms for RTM or infusion components by applying direct resistive heating. The application of a current directly on the material to be processed has the advantage of avoiding the heating and cooling of molds and obtaining results in a much faster and more efficient way than with the methods traditionally used until now. The application of heating only to the preform guarantees the obtaining of much shorter cycle times, and a reduction in energy consumption of up to 90%. This results in a reduction in the cost of the process associated with lower energy consumption and shorter cycle time. The resistive preforming offers results of a quality of the preforms similar to that of conventional hot drape forming technology, being also a repetitive process, which has been validated by impregnating preforms tested under flight conditions.

  Abstract
  The manufacture of preforms for composite structures is predominantly carried out in large hot drape forming facilities. However, these conventional heating sources are very [...]

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