Heat transfer studies on glass epoxy composite laminates - : Effects of heating rate and fiber fraction

Experimental studies are carried out on heat transfer characteristics of RT-cured glass epoxy composite laminates of varied fiber fraction (0.2, 0.32, and 0.5), subjected to different heating rates (2, 6, and 10 C/min). The studies include laminates of different thicknesses (2, 4, and 6 mm), and laminate front wall temperatures (50 and 70 C). The ‘temperature-time profiles’ generated as functions of these parameters, using a custom-built laminate heating system, are discussed considering the effective thermal conductivity of the composite as a deterministic factor. The heat transport process has been analyzed in terms of two significant characteristics quantifying how fast and how close the laminate back wall temperature reaches a set front wall temperature. It has been found that the heating rate, R, and the composite fiber fraction, vf, significantly influence the heat transport characteristics of the composite.