Thermal conductivity of a thermosetting advanced composite during its cure

The thermal conductivity of a thermosetting advanced composite material during its cure was experimentally investigated and compared to analytical models. The thermal conductivity of graphite/epoxy was experimentally measured using a guarded hot plate apparatus, The through thickness transverse thermal conductivity of composite laminates was measured at various resin degrees of cure and fiber volume fractions while using various ply lay-up angles, The in-plane thermal conductivity was measured using unidirectional laminates, as well as laminates with various ply lay-up angles. Techniques for manufacturing composite laminates with these various properties, as well as the guarded hot plate apparatus necessary for accurate measurements, are described. Finally, various analytical models were researched, and those that compare most favorably with the experimental data are presented.