At the German Aerospace Center, they make aerospace parts – such as wings and fuselage parts – from advanced fiber composite materials. These are important elements and they must be flawless, which put high demands on the manufacturing process.
The parts are molded to get the right dimensions before they undergo a curing process. To cure the parts, the large mold is placed in a large autoclave. The mold is put under a 10-bar pressure and heated to 200°C. A homogenous temperature is required at any position of the part to cure it properly.
To ensure high-quality CFRP aircraft parts, the German Aerospace Center wished to monitor and control the temperature throughout the mold. But how?