Open AccessEnergy-efficient double belt press with integrated inductive heating system
Author(s) -
Michael Emonts,
Kai Fischer,
Philipp Wigger,
Simon Greive
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
technologies for lightweight structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2512-4587
DOI - 10.21935/tls.v5i1.162
Subject(s) - pressing , mechanical engineering , elastomer , thermosetting polymer , process (computing) , materials science , composite number , thermoplastic , composite material , process engineering , engineering , computer science , operating system
At the Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) of RWTH Aachen University a new double belt press with inductive heating and elastomer-coated pressure rollers has been developed and optimised within industrial AZL joint partner research projects. This machine system is patented by the AZL and available for industrial trials and also as commercial product in license. This new machine concept enables an efficient, continuous pressing process in a small installation space. The induction allows for a rapid heating of the steel belt material up to 300 °C and the elastomer pressure rollers enable surface contact during pressure application. The double belt press differs from conventional systems as it uses closed-loop controlled inductive heat input and high-temperature resistant elastomer-coated rollers for applying specific pressures up to 23 bar at maximum process temperatures up to 300 °C (current development for up to 400 °C). In extensive trials with several partners from the AZL partner network and external companies, the machine has proven to be efficient for consolidating thermoplastic composite laminates as well as for impregnating both thermoset and thermoplastic composite laminates.