Induction heating method for forming composite articles

Abstract

An induction heating method includes the steps of molding composite material having non-induction heatable reinforcement material and induction heatable material in a thermally curable polymer based resin, followed by curing the polymer based resin at least partially while in the mold by exposure to a time varying magnetic field. The molding tool apparatus has molding tool members defining a molding tool cavity corresponding to the desired composite article, and an induction heating system having induction coils integral with the molding tool members such that the molding tool cavity is disposed between them. An electrical circuit for providing power to the induction coils to generate a time varying magnetic field about the molding tool cavity includes an RF generator and a matching network for matching the impedance of the induction coils, electrical leads and connections of the induction heating system to the output of the RF generator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.