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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.

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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.
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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
The image shows green fibers (E-glass), orange fibers (polypropylene), and white spheres (voids).
Segmented 3D image of fiber composite, showing green fibers (E-glass), orange fibers (polypropylene), and white spheres (voids). Courtesy of: P. Milani, University of British Columbia, CA.

Application Note

Non-destructive 3D Quantification of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Materials

Click below to read the application note.

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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. 

 

Multi-scale model of a carbon fiber composite material acquired with correlative microscopy techniques.
Multi-scale model of a carbon fiber composite material acquired with correlative microscopy techniques.

Application Note

Investigating Structure-property Relationships in a Carbon-fiber Composite

Click below to read the application note.

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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

Title

Journal

Date

Analytical study on the 3D-printed structure and mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced PLA composites using X-ray microscopy

Composites Science and Technology

May 19

Tailored fibre placement of commingled carbon-thermoplastic fibres for notch-insensitive composites

Composite Structures

April 19

Hygrothermal aging and structural damage of a jute/poly (lactic acid)(PLA) composite observed by X-ray tomography

Composites Science and Technology

March 19

On the significant enhancement in the performance properties of PAEK composite by inclusion of a small amount of nano-mica particles

Tribology International

March 19

Evolution of kink bands in a notched unidirectional carbon fibre-epoxy composite under four-point bending

Composites Science and Technology

January 19

Examination of a small radius of curvature composite notch with a novel chevron feature to improve damage tolerance

Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing

January 19

Strong, Fracture-Resistant Biomimetic Silicon Carbide Composites with Laminated Interwoven Nano-Architectures Inspired by the Crustacean Exoskeleton

ACS Applied Nano Materials

January 19

Dual-energy X-ray computed tomography for void detection in fiber-reinforced composites

Journal of Composite Materials

January 19

Mean field homogenization schemes for short fiber reinforced thermoplastics based on real microstructural information

Proceeding in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics

December 18

Stochastic fracture of additively manufactured porous composites

Scientific Reports

October 18

Multiscale microstructural characterization of particulate-reinforced composite with non-destructive X-ray micro- and nanotomography

Composite Structures

June 18

Uncovering the fatigue damage initiation and progression in uni-directional non-crimp fabric reinforced polyester composite

Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing

March 18

Damage tolerance of carbon-carbon composites in aerospace application

Carbon

January 18
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Microscopy Solutions for Fiber Composite Materials

Discover the ZEISS Product and Software Portfolio

Light Microscopy (LM)

ZEISS Axio Imager, Axio Lab.A1, Axioscope, Axio Zoom.V16

Investigate Fiber Composite Materials with Light Microscopy
Light Microscope, ZEISS Axio Imager 2 for Materials Research

ZEISS Axio Imager 2

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ZEISS Axio Lab.A1

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ZEISS Axioscope

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ZEISS Axio Zoom.V16

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X-ray Microscopy (XRM)

ZEISS Xradia 600-series Versa, Xradia 800 Ultra Family

Investigate Fiber Composite Materials with X-ray Microscopy
X-ray Microscope, ZEISS Xradia 620 Versa

ZEISS Xradia 600-series Versa

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ZEISS Xradia Ultra Family

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Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

ZEISS EVO Family

Investigate Fiber Composite Materials with Scanning Electron Microscopy
Scanning Electron Microscope, ZEISS EVO 15

ZEISS EVO Family

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Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM)

ZEISS Crossbeam Family

Investigate Fiber Composite Materials with Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy
Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy, ZEISS Crossbeam 550

ZEISS Crossbeam Family

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Software Solutions / Multi-modal Microscopy

ZEISS ZEN Core Modules, ZEN Connect, Atlas 5

Investigate Fiber Composite Materials with Software Solutions for Multi-modal Microscopy
Software Solutions, ZEISS ZEN Core Modules

ZEISS ZEN Core Modules

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ZEISS ZEN Connect

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ZEISS Atlas 5

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Questions? Get In Touch With Us.

Speak to our microscopy experts for fiber composites.

Get in touch with us to find out more about the benefits of ZEISS Microscopy Solutions for your fiber composite materials research, book a demo at our customer center, or get a quote. We are looking forward to hearing from you.