Application of X-ray refraction topography to fibre reinforced plastics

The effect of X-ray refraction employs an unconventional small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique which has been developed and applied to meet actual problems for improved non-destructive characterisation of advanced materials. The X-tay refraction technique makes use of X-ray optical effects at micro interfaces of composite materials. This method reveals the inner surface and interface concentrations in nanometer dimensions due to the short X-ray wavelength near 10(-4) mum. Sub-micron crack and pore sizes are easily determined by "X-ray refractometry" without destroying the structure by cutting or polishing for microscopic techniques. The non-destructive characterisation of microfailure e.g. voids, fibre debonding, fibre cracks and microcracks of a short glass fibre reinforced polyoximethylene (POM-GF) after mechanical loading acid accelerated ageing is investigated. X-ray refraction topographs are illustrated, showing the damage accumulation of POM-GF specimens after the fatigue test. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.