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Patent — available for licensing
Automated Guided Wave System for In-process Cure Monitoring of CFRP Composite Laminates
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
In the polymer composites industry, cure cycles are typically developed from a trial and error or a more effective processing science approach to reduce the final porosity level in the composite laminate. Using an automated system, high-temperature piezoelectric transducers were utilized to interrogate a twenty-four ply unidirectional composite panel fabricated from Hexcel IM7/8552 prepreg during cure. It was shown that the amplitude of the guided wave increased sharply around vitrification and the TOA curve possessed an inverse relationship with degree of cure.