Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed methods and systems pertaining to the use of at least one methodology or technique for the purpose of at least one of either: 1) determining that a desired and predetermined level or “degree” of surface treatment of a composite substrate surface has or has not been conducted (e.g., laser treatment of a composite substrate surface); and 2) that a composite substrate surface has been laser treated.

Abstract: Methods of applying a bond primer composition to a metal surface of an aerospace part are provided which may comprise forming a multilayer bond primer structure by (a) applying a first sublayer of a bond primer composition onto a metal surface of an aerospace part using a foam applicator comprising the bond primer composition; (b) heating the first sublayer; (c) applying a second sublayer of the bond primer composition onto the first sublayer; (d) heating the second sublayer; (e) applying a final sublayer of the bond primer composition onto an underlying sublayer of the multilayer bond primer structure; and curing the multilayer bond primer structure to form a bond primer coating adhered to the metal surface.

Abstract: There is provided a quantitative method for determining a level of a sanding surface preparation of a carbon fiber composite surface, prior to the carbon fiber composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a composite assembly that includes a core coated with resin. Inspecting the composite assembly includes accessing an image of a cross section of the core, the image having a dot matrix data structure with a matrix of intensity values and identifying a subset of the intensity values that describe a distribution of the resin on the core. Next, the intensity values of the subset of the intensity values are classified to indicate either uniform or non-uniform distribution of the resin on the core. Either a first comparison determining a ratio of uniform resin or a second comparison determining a ratio of non-uniform resin is performed. Based on the first comparison or the second comparison as performed, a quality of the composite assembly is determined. Finally, an indication of the quality of the composite assembly is output.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface, prior to the composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The method includes fabricating a plurality of levels of abrasive surface preparation standards for a reference composite surface; using one or more surface analysis tools to create target values for quantifying each of the levels; and measuring, with the surface analysis tools, one or more abrasive surface preparation locations on the composite surface of a test composite structure, to obtain one or more test result measurements. The method further includes comparing each of the one or more test result measurements to the levels, to obtain one or more test result levels; determining if the one or more test result levels meet the one or more target values; and determining whether the composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

Abstract: There is provided a quantitative method for determining a level of a sanding surface preparation of a carbon fiber composite surface, prior to the carbon fiber composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface, prior to the composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The method includes fabricating levels of abrasive surface preparation standards for a reference composite surface; using a surface analysis tool in the form of an ohm meter, to create target values for quantifying the levels; and measuring, with the surface analysis tool, one or more abrasive surface preparation locations on the composite surface of a test composite structure, to measure one or more of, electrical resistance and surface resistivity, of the composite surface, to obtain test result measurement(s). The method further includes comparing the test result measurement(s) to the levels, to obtain test result level(s); determining if the test result level(s) meet the target value(s); and determining whether the composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed methods and systems pertaining to the use of at least one methodology or technique for the purpose of at least one of either: 1) determining that a desired and predetermined level or “degree” of surface treatment of a composite substrate surface has or has not been conducted (e.g., laser treatment of a composite substrate surface); and 2) that a composite substrate surface has been laser treated.

Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface, prior to the composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The method includes fabricating levels of abrasive surface preparation standards for a reference composite surface; using a surface analysis tool in the form of an ohm meter, to create target values for quantifying the levels; and measuring, with the surface analysis tool, one or more abrasive surface preparation locations on the composite surface of a test composite structure, to measure one or more of, electrical resistance and surface resistivity, of the composite surface, to obtain test result measurement(s). The method further includes comparing the test result measurement(s) to the levels, to obtain test result level(s); determining if the test result level(s) meet the target value(s); and determining whether the composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface, prior to the composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The method includes fabricating a plurality of levels of abrasive surface preparation standards for a reference composite surface; using one or more surface analysis tools to create target values for quantifying each of the levels; and measuring, with the surface analysis tools, one or more abrasive surface preparation locations on the composite surface of a test composite structure, to obtain one or more test result measurements. The method further includes comparing each of the one or more test result measurements to the levels, to obtain one or more test result levels; determining if the one or more test result levels meet the one or more target values; and determining whether the composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.

Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.

Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.