Detecting and minimizing fiber misalignment in a composite during manufacturing
US5844669A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N23/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for detecting misalignment of initially-aligned fiber filaments in a composite. An optical fiber is placed among the fiber filaments in the composite, light is directed into the optical fiber, the intensity of the light in the optical fiber is measured during subsequent composite processing, and attenuation in such light intensity is ascertained which indicates such misalignment (e.g., wrinkling, bending, buckling, porosity, delamination and the like) is being detected during such processing. In another preferred method, before-processing and after-processing x-ray images are taken of an x-ray-attenuating fiber which has been placed among x-ray-transparent fiber filaments in a composite.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.