Method for the Microstructural Characterisation of Unidirectional Composite Tapes

Journal Article (2021)
Author(s)

N. Katuin (TU Delft - Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies)

D.M.J. Peeters (TU Delft - Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics)

C.A. Dransfeld (TU Delft - Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies)

Research Group
Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs5100275
More Info
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Publication Year
2021
Language
English
Research Group
Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies
Issue number
10
Volume number
5
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Abstract

The outstanding properties of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites are affected by the development of its microstructure during processing. This work presents a novel approach to identify microstructural features both along the tape thickness and through the thickness. Voronoi tessellation-based evaluation of the fibre volume content on cross-sectional micrographs, with consideration of the matrix boundary, is performed. The method is shown to be robust and is suitable to be automated. It has the potential to discriminate specific microstructural features and to relate them to processing behaviour removing the need for manufacturing trials.