Composed of thread-like fibers of graphite, boron, or aramid embedded in a matrix of resin, metal, or other material, advanced composites have hundreds of applications, some of which include providing structural support for aircraft engines, missiles, rocket motor cases, prosthetic devices, tennis rackets, and even musical instruments.
Monitoring the hardening, or curing, of these composites is important to creating a product of optimal strength, quality, and consistency. For materials scientists developing these composites, a new instrument has been designed to measure the real-time chemical changes occurring in resins during the cure - the Eumetric System III Dielectrometer from Micromet Instruments Inc., Cambridge, Mass.
According to Kimberly A. Russell, vice president of marketing at Micromet Instruments, real-time, on-line measurement is what allows the Eumetric device to be used both at the laboratory bench and on the manufacturing floor. As a result, a company "can use the same exact instrument in the ...
