Intimate Contact Measurements

Probably the two most commonly used techniques for measuring the overall quality of the composite consolidation are optical photomicrographs and through transmission C-scan. Both of these techniques can be readily adapted to measuring the degree of intimate contact at the ply interfaces. 

The ultrasonic C-scan technique is the most widely used nondestructive method of locating defects in the composite microstructure. The through transmission C-scan is easy to implement and a large composite panel can be scanned in a matter of minutes. The problem with this technique is that a C-scan cannot reveal the type of defect present. Hence, there is no way to determine if a flaw detected by the C-scan is due to incomplete contact of an interply interface or some other type of defect in the composite microstructure. 

The most efficient approach to measuring intimate contact of a multiple ply composite laminate would probably be to first use the C-scan technique or some other nondestructive method to determine the location of any flaws in the panel. The cross-sections of the panel that contain the flaws can then be examined by preparing optical micrographs of those areas, and the interply interface examined for complete contact. 

---

At least six detectors are built within the machine, suitably distributed around the circumference and placed between the layers along the length of the core where the highest temperature is likely to occur. Each detector is installed in intimate contact with the surface, whose temperature is to be measured and in such a way that the detector is effectively protected from contact with the cooling air. A detector embedded beneath the winding layer inside the slot is of little consequence for it will detect the temperature of the core and not of the winding. The location of the detectors must be as follows ... 

In recent years many efforts have been made to develop immunochemical techniques integrating the recognition elements and the detection components, in order to obtain small devices with the ability to carry out direct, selective, and continuous measurements of one or several analytes present in the sample. In this context biosensors can fulfill these requirements. Biosensors are analytical devices consisting of a biological component (enzyme, receptor, DNA, cell, Ab, etc.) in intimate contact with a physical transducer that converts the biorecognition process into a measurable signal (electrical or optical) (see Fig. 4). In... 

Biosensors are analytical devices that incorporate a biological component and a transducer. These must be in close proximity with one another and preferably in intimate contact, i.e. the biological component immobilized on to the transducer. Such devices are available in disposable forms, e.g. for measurement of blood glucose in diabetic patients, evaluation of the freshness of uncooked meat. Other designs are suitable for continuous use, e.g. on-line monitoring of fermentation processes, the detection of toxic substances. 

The Li-Loos intimate contact model was verified for compression molded unidirectional graphite-polysulfone and graphite-PEEK (APC-2) laminae and graphite-PEEK (APC-2) cross-ply laminates. The degrees of intimate contact of the unidirectional and cross-ply specimens were measured by optical microscopy and scanning acoustic microscopy, respectively. The predicted degrees of intimate contact agreed well with the measured values for both the unidirectional and cross-ply specimens processed at different temperature and pressures. 

In the following example, scanning acoustic microscopy is combined with optical microscopy to measure intimate contact at the ply interfaces of a [0o/90o/0°]r graphite-PEEK laminate. First, eight holes, 1.5 mm (0.059 in.) in diameter, were drilled into the composite specimen. These holes, shown in Figure 7.12, were used to locate where on the composite specimen the scanning acoustic microscope images were taken. 

The intimate contact data shown in Figure 7.16 were obtained from three-ply, APC-2, [0°/90o/0o]7- cross-ply laminates that were compression molded in a 76.2 mm (3 in.) square steel mold. The degree of intimate contact of the ply interfaces was measured using scanning acoustic microscopy and image analysis software (Section 7.4). The surface characterization parameters for APC-2 Batch II prepreg in Table 7.2 and the zero-shear-rate viscosity for PEEK resin were input into the intimate contact model for the cross-ply interface. Additional details of the experimental procedures and the viscosity data for PEEK resin are given in Reference 22. 

Caoutchouc mixed and warmed with finely divided black amorphous selenium assumes the dark red colour of colloidal selenium. This is the first observed case of the direct reduction of an element to the colloidal condition by intimate contact with a colloid.5 The effect is probably due in large measure to stresses produced and heat generated during the mechanical working of the mixture. The presence of another colloidal substance such as albumen, gum arabic or the sodium salt of protalbic acid, renders the colloidal selenium more stable, so that it may even be separated in a solid state without losing its power of again yielding a colloidal solution on the addition of water.6... 

---