Detection of defects in natural composite materials using a thermal imaging technique

• Main Authors: Mat Jusoh, Suriani, Ali, Aidy, Abdan, Khalina, Salit, Mohd Sapuan, Abdullah, Shahrir, Haftirman,
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG 2012
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23469/1/23469.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23469/; http://www.hanser-elibrary.com/doi/abs/10.3139/120.110333

Nowadays, non-destructive testing (NDT) is frequently replacing destructive techniques in determining the properties of materials. In this study, defects in Kenaf/epoxy composite materials were detected using an inyyfrared (IR) thermal imaging technique, which is one of the most practical non-destructive techniques currently applied. Kenaf bast fibres were used to fabricate composite materials with epoxy resin as a binding material. The composites were manufactured using a manual lay-up process. The thermography analysis of the IR camera were verified by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations. The defect detection accuracy of this technology is 95%.