Inductively heated slip sheet and methods of using

An induction curing system comprising:

• a slip sheet comprising:
• a layup surface configured to receive a composite material;
• a tool interface surface configured to interface with an upper surface of a tool;
• a body extending between the layup surface and the tool interface surface;
• an induction coil circuit within the body of the slip sheet, the induction coil circuit configured to heat the layup surface to a temperature sufficient to cure the composite material, the induction coil circuit comprising a conductor for receiving electrical current and generating a magnetic field in response to the electrical current and a susceptor wire wound along at least a portion of a length of the conductor, the susceptor wire having a diameter of greater than 0.05 inches, the induction coil circuit having a diameter selected to generate heat using a power supply having a frequency below 150 kHz;
• and
• a power supply coupled with the induction coil circuit, the power supply selected based on the diameter of the induction coil circuit,
• wherein the induction coil circuit comprises a conductor and a susceptor wire having a first Curie temperature, and wherein the slip sheet further comprises a second induction coil circuit, and wherein the second induction coil circuit comprises a second conductor and a second susceptor wire having a second Curie temperature, wherein the first Curie temperature is different than the second Curie temperature.

An induction curing system comprising:

• a slip sheet comprising:
• a layup surface configured to receive a composite material;
• a tool interface surface configured to interface with an upper surface of a tool;
• a body extending between the layup surface and the tool interface surface;
• an induction coil circuit within the body of the slip sheet, the induction coil circuit configured to heat the layup surface to a temperature sufficient to cure the composite material, the induction coil circuit comprising a conductor for receiving electrical current and generating a magnetic field in response to the electrical current and a susceptor wire wound along at least a portion of a length of the conductor, the susceptor wire having a diameter of greater than 0.05 inches, the induction coil circuit having a diameter selected to generate heat using a power supply having a frequency below 150 kHz;
• a power supply coupled with the induction coil circuit, the power supply selected based on the diameter of the induction coil circuit;
• and
• wherein the induction coil circuit comprises a conductor and a susceptor wire having a first Curie temperature, and wherein the slip sheet further comprises a second induction coil circuit, and wherein the second induction coil circuit comprises a second conductor and a second susceptor wire having a second Curie temperature, wherein the first Curie temperature is different than the second Curie temperature,
• wherein the body is a rigid body, and wherein the rigid body is sufficiently rigid to support the composite material during transport of the composite material and
• wherein the first Curie temperature is a curing temperature and wherein the second Curie temperature is a layup temperature.