Compared　to　composite　components　prepared　by　traditional　thermal　process,　microwave-cured　laminates　exhibit　superior　mechanical　properties　under　the　same　heating　cycle,　indicating　a　unique　heating　mode　that　differs　from　air　circulation.　To　progressively　replace　the　thermal　curing　process　with　microwave　technology　in　the　aerospace　composites　manufacturing　field,　it　is　crucial　to　elucidate　the　heating　mechanism　of　microwave-cured　composite　materials.　In　this　study,　the　microwave　absorbing　performance　of　both　carbon　fibers　and　epoxy　resins　was　systematically　compared　and　revealed.　Drawing　upon　principles　of　organic　chemical　reaction　and　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy,　the　results　demonstrated　the　swift　response　of　carbon　fibers　to　microwaves,　which　facilitated　heightened　functional　group　transformation　and　more　complete　curing　reactions　at　the　fiber-matrix　interface.　Notably,　as　indicated　by　the　results　of　the　three-point　bending　tests　and　fiber　push-in　tests,　microwave-cured　laminates　displayed　enhanced　interlaminar　and　interfacial　bonding　properties　in　comparison　to　thermally　cured　counterparts,　resulting　in　a　10.74%　increase　in　interlaminar　shear　strength　(ILSS)　and　a　20.23%　rise　in　interfacial　shear　strength　(IFSS).　Highlights:　Carbon　fibers　exhibits　a　more　pronounced　ability　to　absorb　microwaves　than　resins.　Microwave-cured　laminate　achieves　a　higher　degree　of　curing　reaction.　Microwave　curing　enhances　the　ILSS　and　IFSS　of　composite　materials.　©　2023　Society　of　Plastics　Engineers.