Composite material processing apparatus and composite material processing method

A composite material processing method for welding a plurality of composite materials with each other in which a resin and fibers are compounded, the method comprising:

• attaching a buffer part to a pressing surface of a mold,
• the buffer part having higher thermal conductivity in a direction along the pressing surface than in a direction intersecting the pressing surface, and
• the buffer part having flexibility so as to be elastically deformed in a pressing direction of the mold, by pressing force from the mold, in accordance with a shape of the pressing surface of the mold and a contact surface of a composite material of the plurality of composite materials;
• pressing, by the pressing surface of the mold, the composite material;
• and
• adjusting a temperature of the plurality of composite materials by a heat generation of a resistive element, which is different from the buffer part and is arranged between the plurality of composite materials, the resistive element generating heat when a current flows through the resistive element,
• wherein the pressing presses the composite material in a state where the buffer part is provided between the pressing surface and the composite material, and
• wherein the buffer part is provided between an entire region of the pressing surface of the mold and the composite material.