Continuous Resistance Heating Technology - Risks and Opportunities of a Novel Heating Method

Abstract

CoRe HeaT, the Continuous Resistance Heating Technology, is a novel heating method that can be used for carbon fibre placement processes such as the Automated Fibre Placement method, tape winding or alike. The paper gives a short overview of the technology and its main properties. The main disadvantage and risk of the technology is that it is not compatible with all common production materials. Only suitable carbon fibre materials can be heated using CoRe HeaT. While dry fibre tape material seems to be unproblematic, some prepreg tapes were found to be critical. Microscopic analysis and electrical resistance measurements seem to be an easy and fast method to determine whether a tape is suitable for continuous resistance heating or not. Aside from this risk, the technology offers the opportunity to increase productivity while reducing costs through high-speed heating and superior energy efficiency.