Mapping resin in composite laminates using x-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging

摘要

Mang different composite materials and components have been evaluated using x-ray computed tomography (CT). Resin flows in composite materials are generally visible, assuming a difference in the linear attenuation coefficients of the fiber and resin material, because CT images have excellent contrast resolution (density discrimination), Computed tomography images typically have significantly better contrast resolution than conventional radiological images. Very similarly attenuating materials in a given part, which usually applies to polymer matrix materials and components, can be differentiated from one another much more effectively. This paper will discuss CT images of resin flows in laminate composites in which the resin flow was prematurely stopped before "wetting out" the lamiante. Multiple CT scans (slices) were performed and stacked to reconstruct volumetric data, which was subsequently analyzed and processed to create thre-edimensional point cloud models of resin location.