Heat Blankets-for Composite Bonded Repair

This program explores solutions to temperature variations across the surface of a heating blanket used in composite structure repair in laboratory, depot or field applications. This task will document effects on heat blanket performance from the basic parameters of heat blanket materials and design such as wire diameter, resistance changes, spacing control, heat dissipation by heat sinks, multiple zone heating effects, differences between 110 volt and 220 volt power system and changes in electrical resistance of heating wires over the temperature range of the blanket. In addition, the effects of thermocouple operational problems and thermocouple placement will be reviewed. The influence of support structure heat sinks on blanket performance will be analyzed. A unique method of sensing repair part surface temperature using the heating grid as a zone sensor will be explored and developed. The potential for commercial use of the improved heat blanket will be emphasized with a detailed market analysis, covering commercial aircraft, mass transit and civil engineering applications. The results of the study will be documented in a final report and will be prepared for implementation into an advanced design of heating blanket incorporating the developed changes to the basic parameters of the heat blanket design.