Research project could speed up product testing
23/03/2017
The probe could allow for the speeding up of product testing and potentially reduce the amount of time and materials needed to develop new composites.
It was created using a dye that changes from dark to light when a force is applied. During testing, the probe was attached to silk fibres contained within an epoxy-based composite. As the force applied to the composite was increased, the dye was activated. It was not visible to the human eye, but the researchers designed and built a red laser and a microscope to take photographs inside the composite. This allowed them to see the points where the fibre has fractured.
The NIST team plans to expand their research to explore how such probes could be used in other kinds of composites. They also hope to use sensors to enhance the capability of these composites to withstand extreme cold, heat, or prolonged exposure to water.
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