Insights into Induction Heating Processes for Polymeric Materials: An Overview of the Mechanisms and Current Applications

Alberto Mariani and Giulio Malucelli ()
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Alberto Mariani: Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Giulio Malucelli: Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, INSTM, Via Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: In polymer systems, induction heating (IH) is the physical outcome that results from the exposure of selected polymer composites embedding electrically-conductive and/or ferromagnetic fillers to an alternating electromagnetic field (frequency range: from kHz to MHz). The interaction of the applied electromagnetic field with the material accounts for the creation of magnetic polarization effects (i.e., magnetic hysteresis losses) and/or eddy currents (i.e., Joule losses, upon the formation of closed electrical loops), which, in turn, cause the heating up of the material itself. The heat involved can be exploited for different uses, ranging from the curing of thermosetting systems, the welding of thermoplastics, and the processing of temperature-sensitive materials (through selective IH) up to the activation of special effects in polymer systems (such as self-healing and shape-memory effects). This review aims at summarizing the current state-of-the-art of IH processes for polymers, providing readers with the current limitations and challenges, and further discussing some possible developments for the following years.

Keywords: induction heating; reaction mechanisms; eddy currents; magnetic polarization; applications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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