Interlaminar properties are one of the most important indicators of thermoplastic composite quality. A series of laminates with different moulding process parameters were prepared by unidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced polyether ether ketone (CF/PEEK) prepreg to explore the influence of moulding process parameters on the interlaminar properties of CF/PEEK composite laminates. The influence of the three process parameters, moulding pressure, moulding temperature, and holding time on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of [0/90] ₈ laminates was studied. The interlaminar shear failure modes of specimens under different moulding process parameters were compared, and the correlation between the ILSS and interlaminar shear failure modes was analysed. The results showed that the appropriate moulding pressure was 2 MPa, the proper moulding temperature range was 400–420°C and the holding time should not be less than 20 min. The main failure modes were tensile or compression when the laminates were moulded using proper process parameters; interlaminar shear failure might also appear in those moulded by non-optimised process parameters.

As an attractive alternative to the traditional autoclave curing process, microwave curing has been widely used for manufacturing high-performance composites. However, the nonuniform temperature distribution during composite curing is the main problem faced by the microwave curing process, which limits its application in the aerospace industry. This paper studied the regulating effects of cavity structure and mechanical optimization methods on the uniformity of the microwave field by numerical analysis and finite element simulation, and an octagonal microwave heating device with multi-microwave generators, mode stirrers and mobile platform was developed independently and the experimental verification were finally carried out. The results showed that compared with the traditional heating device, the T800/602 carbon fiber reinforced composite laminates cured in the regulating device of microwave heating uniformity established in this paper had more uniform temperature field distribution, a more synchronous curing process and lower residual stresses.

As an emerging composite curing process, the microwave curing process has been widely concerned by many research teams due to its several major advantages over conventional conductive heating when used to cure carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, especially in speed of processing. However, many studies have shown that the quality and properties of microwave cured-composites have been reduced compared with the autoclave process, which limits the universal application of the technology in the field of composites manufacturing. In this study, in order to improve the quality of microwave cured-composites and reduce the influence of pressure on the forming process, a series of laminates have been prepared at different heating rates by introducing vibration treatment into the microwave curing process. The short-beam three-point bending test, optical digital microscopy, scanning electron microscope were used to analyze laminates from micro- and macro-scale point of view. The results showed that the introduction of vibration treatment could effectively reduce the internal defects and improve the mechanical properties of the microwave cured-laminates, which provided a new method for high-quality, low-defects microwave curing of composites.