Inspection and analysis are important steps in the development and production of composite materials.

Typical composite analysis involves a series of test specimens which are subject to both mechanical and optical analysis methods.

At Extec, we provide turn-key solutions starting for acquiring test specimens and preparing them for analysis. What’s more, we provide the entire suite of products to do successful optical analysis of your composite material.

Optical analysis is a very important tool for analyzing composites. The optical evaluation of composite material yields critical data regarding the structure of composite. Understanding this structure is a key to understanding the performance characteristics of the composite material.

Applications

Typical applications for optical composite analysis include:

Void Analysis (Voidage)

1. Automated determination of the percentage of voids in the material
2. Automated count and sizing of voids

Fiber Content Analysis (Fiber Density, Fiber Count)

• Automated determination of the percentage of fiber in the material
• Automated count and sizing of fibers

Through our Extec Imaging division we provide the microscopes, imaging hardware, and analysis software to successfully analyze these and other features. We provide basic solutions for analysis to fully automated systems which analyze multiple fields on a sample and provide volumes of data for statistical analysis.

Depending on your application, we will tailor the optimum optical analysis solution to provide the best results.

Industry Spotlight: Aviation

Modern aviation, both military and civilian, is a prime example for use of composites. Demands made by the aviation industry for materials that are both light and strong have been the main force driving the development of composites. Learn More »