Studies on Tensile and Interlaminar Shear Strength Properties of Thermally Cured and Microwave Cured Glass–Epoxy Composites

Abstract

Experimental studies are carried out on two different glass–epoxy composites (one room temperature curing epoxy–amine system and the other, an elevated temperature curing epoxy–amine system) subjected to two different curing techniques (thermal and microwave), in order to investigate the effects on their thermomechanical properties. Microwave (MW) curing is carried out using a laboratory scale, custom-built, multi-mode microwave cure chambery operating at a frequency of 2450 MHz. Tensile and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) properties of the MW cured composites either compared well, or were superior, to those of their thermally cured counterparts, offering the added advantages of reduced cure cycle time, uniformity of cure, and substantial energy savings. Further, the glass transition temperature (T g ) values of MW cured composite laminates are slightly superior to those of thermally cured laminates.