Common to all these applications is that thicker composite sections are being constructed. For the armoured personnel carrier and similar applications, section thicknesses of 100 mm and greater are required. Using conventional (autoclave)
heating to cure the composite leads to large thermal gradients due to the poor thermal conductivity of both the reinforcing glass fibre and the polymer matrix. Autoclave heating, where thermal energy is transferred into the material by
conduction and radiation occurs via the surface, whereas microwave heating occurs via direct molecular interaction throughout the material, thereby reducing thermal gradients.