Automated fiber placement (AFP) is one of the most advanced high-performance aerospace composite manufacturing technology. In order to further study the influence of heating temperature on the properties of composite in AFP technology

a heat transfer model of infrared heating system in AFP process was established. Based on this model

the temperature control method of AFP and the uniformity of temperature distribution in the prepreg layers were analyzed

and the influence of heating temperature on the mechanical properties of composite was studied experimentally. The results show that the heating temperature is the key process parameter affecting the mechanical properties of the composite. When the heating temperature was set at 35℃

the tensile strength

bending strength and interlaminar shear strength of the composite specimens made in this paper increased by 20.9%

12.4% and 4.9%

respectively. Pre-curing of prepreg tows due to over-high local temperature of the prepreg caused by uneven heating

and the resin-poor regions caused by resin flow under the combined action of local high pressure and temperature probably is the one of reasons leading to the deterioration of composite properties.