Paper number 167

3D CHARACTERISATION OF GLASS FIBRES IN COMPOSITES BY CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY

A.R. Clarke, C.N. Eberhardt and N.C. Davidson

Molecular Physics & Instrumentation Group, Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

Summary

The development of instrumentation to reconstruct the orientation of fibres in polymer composites has come a long way over the past ten years, mainly due to the improvements in computer-assisted microscopy and the implementation of novel microscopic techniques. In this paper, both 2D reflection mode optical microscopy and also confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) applications to specific problems associated with glass fibre reinforced polymer composites are discussed. The ability of the CLSM to throw optical sections within semi-transparent materials allows us to reconstruct fibre orientations and spatial distributions over large sample regions (mms x mms x 50 ?m) within reasonable timescales. Both continuous glass fibre composites and discrete, injection moulded composites are discussed and new characterisations are proposed e.g. fibre curvature, torsion and curl of the vector field. Complex vortex regions and fracture regions are now accessible to 3D reconstruction using the CLSM.

Keywords

confocal laser scanning microscopy, 3D reconstruction, glass fibres.