Analysis of coupled electromagnetic and thermal modeling of pressure-aided microwave curing processes

Abstract

In this work microwave heat generation in materials surrounded by several layers of dielectrics is studied. Particularly, the pressure-aided microwave rubber vulcanisation process, where the use of dielectric moulds to exert the proper pressure over the rubber samples is essential for this application. Temperature distributions of rubber and mould materials have been simulated using a discretisation strategy based on the FDTD technique. Simulation results show that dielectric and thermal properties of the pressing moulds are of the utmost importance in order to obtain the desired temperature profiles along the volume of the rubber and therefore to achieve a uniform degree of vulcanisation. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.