Author(s)

K. Tanaka, M. Tanaka, R. Sue, T. Katayama, H. Kuwahara

Abstract

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) are expected to be used for lightweight component parts of automobiles. Considering recyclability and productivity, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics (CFRTP) have been getting attention. However, the cost of CFRTP is so high that the use of CFRTP is rarely applied in the automobile industries. In order to reduce the cost of CFRTP, a novel production process with short cycle time needs to be developed. Direct resistance heating of the mold for CFRTP thermoforming is the technology in which high speed heating can be obtained by using high frequency voltage. However, uniformity of temperature distribution is one of the important issues to be solved. In this study, in order to understand the proximity effect, effect of electrode shapes and the frequency of applied voltage on the temperature distribution of a flat type mold, FEM analysis of the electromagnetic field and heat transfer was conducted and analysed results were compared with the experimental results. When alternative current is applied to the facing surfaces of molds in different directions in FEM analysis, the current concentrates to the facing surface due to the proximity effect. The analysed temperature of the mold surface corresponds to the experimental results. When higher frequency is applied to the mold, higher concentration of current is obtained. When the electrodes are mounted to be close to the mold surface, the mold surface can be efficiently heated.

Keywords

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics (CFRTP), direct resistance heating, proximity effect, frequency, electrode shapes, FEM analysis