ON LINE DETERMINATION OF COMPOSITE LAMINATE THERMAL-DIFFUSIVITY AND HEAT RELEASE RATE

Efforts to ensure the quality of composite parts during cure has led to the development of expert systems for real time process control. Of primary importance to the success of these systems is the sensor data which provide information on the response of the part to autoclave conditions. A novel use of a thermopile and method for processing the thermopile data to determine the thermal diffusivity and rate of heat release of the laminate during cure have been developed. This information can be used to detect onset of reaction, rate of reaction and end of cure.