Beyond imaging the mass distribution of materials by X-ray absorption techniques recent synchrotron and laboratory X-ray refraction techniques provide interface contrast imaging of micro structures. This is of specific relevance to carbon fibre composites (CFRP) which constitute advanced aerospace components. Apart from merely finding isolated flaws like cracks or pores within the natural high ...

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)and pitch-based carbon fibres are widely used as a reinforcement in composite materials such as carbon fibre reinforced plastics, carbon fibre reinforced ceramics, carbon-carbon composites and carbon fibre reinforced metals, because of their high specific strength and modulus. Such composites have become a dominant material in the aerospace, automotive and sporting goods ...

Synchrotron radiation computed tomography has been used to analyse fibre break accumulation in unidirectional composites loaded in tension. The data are compared to model predictions. The model only slightly overestimated the composite failure strain, but predictions of fibre break density were too high, which can be mainly attributed to errors in the Weibull distribution. Both the number and p...

The wide range of applications of microwave technology in manufacturing industries has been well documented (NRC, 1994; Thuery, 1992). In this paper, a new way of joining fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites with or without primers is presented. The microwave facility used is also discussed. The effect of power input and cycle time on the heat affected zone (HAZ) is detailed together with ...

This paper describes a new method for the classification and identification of two major types of defects in composites, namely delamination and matrix cracks, by classification of the spectral features of fibre Bragg grating (FBG) signals. In aeronautical applications of composites, after a damage is detected, it is very useful to know the type of damage prior to determining the treatment meth...

With advances in material science and technology multitude of treatment options are available for traumatically missing anterior tooth. It can be implants, porcelain to metal bridges, Maryland bridges or orthodontic treatment. Development of fibre-reinforced composites (FRCs) has opened a new perspective in such cases. The fibre-reinforced composites have better flexural strength and fracture r...

Petroleum based thermoplastics are widely used in a range of applications, particularly in packaging. However, their usage has resulted in soaring pollutant emissions. Thus, researchers have been driven to seek environmentally friendly alternative packaging materials which are recyclable as well as biodegradable. Due to the excellent mechanical properties of natural fibres, they have been exten...

The characterization of the physical properties of dental resin composites is fraught with difficulties relating to significant intra and inter test parameter variabilities and is relatively time consuming and expensive. The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether optical fibre Brag grating (FBG) sensing system may become a viable tool to study dental material characteristics. Of particu...

Short-fibre reinforced polymer composites are increasingly used as structural or functional components in many engineering fields. To obtain high-performance composite materials, the matrices with high fibre contents (>20–50 wt%). Hence, during their forming, behave concentrated suspensions that exhibit a non-Newtonian rheology. In addition, end-use properties depend on orientation which drasti...