Observation of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRTP) with inspeXio™ SMX™-225CT FPD HR Plus

Introduction

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is a composite material which is produced by strengthening a thermosetting resin with carbon fibers, and offers strength and rigidity equal to or greater than that of steel, together with significantly lighter weight. Although CFRP is relatively expensive in comparison with conventional metal and resin materials, use in industrial applications is increasing, particularly in the automotive field, owing to its excellent mechanical properties. As a material which improves the productivity, processability, and recyclability of CFRP, development of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) has progressed in recent years. Because CFRTP is also suitable for mass production, as the time required for molding is short in comparison with CFRP, expanded application is expected, centering on the automotive industry. While both CFRP and CFRTP have higher mechanical properties than conventional resin materials, the fact that internal voids and cracks that occur in the manufacturing process cause product defects is unchanged. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of both materials are controlled by the orientation of the carbon fibers. In order to stabilize the product quality of CFRP and CFRTP products, it is necessary to investigate whether voids and cracks exist in the resin, and whether the fiber orientation is as designed. X-ray CT systems are used to investigate these points, as nondestructive observation of the 3-dimensional structure of the investigation target is possible. This article introduces an example of observation of voids and the fiber orientation in CFRTP by using the Shimadzu inspeXio SMX-225CT FPD HR Plus microfocus X-ray CT system.

October 27, 2020 GMT