Laminate characterization of fiber-reinforced polymer composites by micro-computed tomography

The aim of this study was the determination of the geometric structural parameters of a glass textile reinforcement, which is embedded into an epoxy polymer matrix, by micro-computed tomography (CT). Therefore, four different glass fabrics were investigated. The CT images of the composites feature a good contrast between glass reinforcement and polymer matrix. The resolution is high enough for the determination of the geometric structural parameters: wavelength of warp and fill yarn, amplitude of warp and fill yarn, width of warp and fill yarn, height of warp and fill yarn and the gap between two adjacent warp and fill yarns. The micro-computed tomography shows a high potential for an efficient measurement of the three dimensional geometric structural properties of laminated woven textile fabrics.