Microwave processing of carbon fibre polymer composites: a review

Microwave processing of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites is gaining increasing attention as an alternative to conventional thermal processing techniques. It has the potential to reduce part processing times and alleviate the bottleneck that often exists in composite component production. The present study reviews the current research and the state-of-the-art of microwave processing of CFRP composites. The benefits and limitations of microwave processing compared with traditional thermal processing methods are examined. The mechanical properties of microwave-cured composites are compared against conventionally-cured counterparts with varying levels of success. Current industrial microwave heating technologies are also examined. It is evident that microwave processing of polymer composites is promising but has notable limiting factors which have stunted its uptake in industry. Due to their prevalence in literature, CFRP composites with thermosetting matrices are the focus of this review. However, potential applications to carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastics are also briefly described.