The temperature history during the laser assisted fiber placement (LAFP) process is very important since it significantly influences the final quality of the structure. Air pockets between subsequent plies, caused by the lack of intimate contact, act as insulators and reduce the through-thickness heat transfer. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the inter-ply thermal contact resistance (TCR). So far, the link between the degree of intimate contact, the corresponding TCR and its influence on the thermal history has not been clearly demonstrated specifically for LAFP. The results indicate that TCR influences the cooling period of the process.@en