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(Uppsala, Sweden) recently visited (Västervik, Sweden) to perform a number of tests for curing carbon fiber composites with their newly developed microwave system. According to Percy Roc, the goal of the visit was to show that with this technique, Marstrom can cure composite materials much faster, with highly reduced energy consumption and without the large autoclave ovens or high pressure chambers.

Marstrom uses carbon fiber composites in their production of spars and other lightweight equipment ranging from aerospace to large sailboats. Per Wärn, Marstrom’s CEO, explains, “This process could help us significantly shorten lead times while saving both time and money. The microwave technology means that we won’t need to wait for the large ovens to heat up — something that is both time consuming and energy inefficient.”

Percy Roc’s curing process is monitored using infrared (IR) technology, which means that the heating is regulated in real time so that the entire surface can be heated homogeneously. Dragos Dancila, CEO and founder of Percy Roc, says, “By continuously regulating the temperature, we ensure that the composite material is evenly heated throughout the process. This secures the quality of the material and works towards eliminating the risk of cracks. By optimizing the heating process we maximize the quality of the carbon fiber composites.”

Wärn says, “This is a game changer for the entire industry — cutting lead times, increasing efficiency while also ensuring maximum quality. All with microwave technology.”

Percy Roc and Marstrom are currently discussing the formation of a collaboration project in order to implement microwave technology into the production lines at Marstrom.