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Fiber-reinforced composites of a polymer matrix offer the advantage of being lightweight and simultaneously showing extraordinary strength. Thus, composites – reinforced with fiberglass, carbon, or synthetic fibers – deliver high performance. For materials scientists and engineers, it is critical to be able to visualize and measure key features. They look into the internal structure of fiber-reinforced polymers that greatly affect the strength and function and want to learn even more about the material and improve it to reach its full potential.
Microscopy Solutions for Fiber Composite Materials
Benefit from exploring the manufacturing techniques through 3D characterization of the polymers’ microstructure in depth. Understand the reliability and failure mechanisms of composites by applying microscopy solutions.
- Processing: Study the methods and processes used to produce novel fiber composite materials with X-ray Microscopy (XRM) or Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
- Structure: Observe and quantify the produced microstructures in situ with non-destructive X-ray Microscopy, or investigate structure-property relationships with multi-modal microscopy techniques, from Light Microscopy and X-ray Microscopy to Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM), combined with correlative software.
- Properties and Performance: Investigate or predict how a novel fiber composite material, like a woven ceramic matrix composite, will perform in real world conditions by conducting multi-scale in situ imaging with X-ray Microscopy.
Study The Processing of Fiber Composites
With X-ray Microscopy or Scanning Electron Microscopy
When you want to characterize your composite material comprehensively, you will need to perform in situ experiments and also investigate details at high magnifications. Benefit from imaging a sample before and after the application of tension or shear and add high resolution in an electron microscope to complement your analysis.
- Conduct non-destructive, high resolution 3D microstructural analysis of large samples by X-ray microscopy
- Preserve the sample for additional methods such as dynamic mechanical analysis and mechanical shear tests
- Use Scanning Electron Microscopy additionally to apply low vacuum, using specific detectors to achieve highly resolved, artifact-free imaging

Application Note
Non-destructive 3D Quantification of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Materials
Click below to read the application note.

Observe and Quantify the Structure of Fiber Composites
With Light Microscopy, X-ray Microscopy, Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy and Software Solutions
Creating structural materials requires you to understand damage initiation and failure mechanisms in structural components. Failures often nucleate inside the bulk, are unobservable until fracture is reached, occur on the microscopic scale, and can exhibit complex 3D characteristics. Mitigate these challenges in characterization and move towards microscopy as a complementary technique to bulk mechanical testing.
- Start the workflow with a light microscope to observe small defects early
- Employ 3D X-ray microscopy as a second step to examine internal structural damage of a carbon fiber-reinforced composite across multiple length scales
- Finally, capture the finest length scale using a Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM)
- With correlative software, retain the context of all data: FIB-SEM, optical and X-ray techniques.

Investigate the Properties and Performance of Fiber Composites
With X-ray Microscopy
Find out how materials researchers all over the world are working every day to improve our understanding of fiber composite materials. In this area, there has been a wide range of publications investigating the properties and performance of fiber composite materials with X-ray microscopy techniques.
- Fracture-Resistant Biomimetic Silicon Carbide Composites
- Non-Crimp Fabric Reinforced Polyester Composite
- 3D-printed structures
- Hygrothermal aging and structural damage
- And many more
Reference List: Fiber Composites XRM Applications
Microscopy Solutions for Fiber Composite Materials
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