The Composite Centre is extending the AMRC’s expertise in metals production into the new generation of carbon fibre composite materials with research focussing on the production and machining of composite components, including hybrid parts which combine high-performance metals and composites in a single structure.

The team at the Composite Centre had identified the opportunity to expand their capabilities for monitoring thermal distribution when curing composites in their industrial Vötsch microwave oven – the HEPHAISTOS VHM 180/200. To do this a total of two Optris infrared (IR) thermal imaging cameras have now been fitted to the microwave system.