Abstract
An analysis of local and global mechanisms of heat generation and distri bution in carbon-fiber-based composites subjected to an alternating magnetic field has shown that heating is dependent upon the dielectric properties of the polymer matrix. These properties were investigated as functions of temperature, frequency and moisture content. The results indicated little dependence of the dielectric constant on temperature or frequency, while the loss tangent exhibited a substantial dependence on both frequency and temperature. A substantial dependence of loss tangent on moisture content in PEEK was found. Significant increases in loss tangent corresponding to small increases in mois ture content are exemplified by a parametric analysis of our induction heating model.