Abstract: A system for measuring thermal degradation of composites includes a cylindrical body; a bottom cover having a lower central aperture; an upper concave mirror facing the bottom cover with an upper central orifice concentric with a central axis of the body; a lower concave mirror facing the upper concave mirror with a lower central orifice concentric with the central axis; a source of actinic radiation between the upper concave mirror and the lower concave mirror on the central axis to direct actinic radiation through the lower central orifice and lower central aperture; and a camera with an image sensor positioned concentrically relative to the upper central orifice; wherein the bottom cover is adjustable relative to the cylindrical body to provide a focusing function for the image sensor by varying the distance from the lower central orifice and the upper reflective surface.

Abstract: A multispectral imaging system and method and a system for composite layup are provided in order to detect foreign object debris during the fabrication of a composite structure. In the context of a method, a surface of a composite material is illuminated with near infrared light. The method also detects the near infrared light following interaction of the near infrared light with the composite material. Following detection, the method analyzes a spectrum of the near infrared light to detect foreign object debris upon the composite material. The method analyzes the spectrum of near infrared light by distinguishing between different types of foreign object debris as a result of comparing the spectrum of near infrared light to predefined spectral signatures of a plurality of different types of foreign object debris. The method may also determine the size and location of the foreign object debris.

Abstract: A system for measuring thermal degradation of composites includes a cylindrical body; a bottom cover having a lower central aperture; an upper concave mirror facing the bottom cover with an upper central orifice concentric with a central axis of the body; a lower concave mirror facing the upper concave mirror with a lower central orifice concentric with the central axis; a source of actinic radiation between the upper concave mirror and the lower concave mirror on the central axis to direct actinic radiation through the lower central orifice and lower central aperture; and a camera with an image sensor positioned concentrically relative to the upper central orifice; wherein the bottom cover is adjustable relative to the cylindrical body to provide a focusing function for the image sensor by varying the distance from the lower central orifice and the upper reflective surface.

Abstract: A system for measuring thermal degradation of composites, may include a housing having an interior with an opening shaped to expose a test area of the composite to be tested to the interior; a light-emitting diode that emits primarily ultraviolet radiation, the diode mounted on the housing to direct the ultraviolet radiation into the interior and through the opening; an image sensor mounted on the housing and open to the interior to receive radiation emitted from the test area passing through the opening into the interior; and an image processor connected to receive a signal from the image sensor, the image processor determining a presence or absence of thermal degradation of the test area in response to the signal.

Abstract: A multispectral imaging system and method and a system for composite layup are provided in order to detect foreign object debris during the fabrication of a composite structure. In the context of a method, a surface of a composite material is illuminated with near infrared light. The method also detects the near infrared light following interaction of the near infrared light with the composite material. Following detection, the method analyzes a spectrum of the near infrared light to detect foreign object debris upon the composite material. The method analyzes the spectrum of near infrared light by distinguishing between different types of foreign object debris as a result of comparing the spectrum of near infrared light to predefined spectral signatures of a plurality of different types of foreign object debris. The method may also determine the size and location of the foreign object debris.

Abstract: A multispectral imaging system and method and a system for composite layup are provided in order to detect foreign object debris during the fabrication of a composite structure. In the context of a method, a surface of a composite material is illuminated with near infrared light. The method also detects the near infrared light following interaction of the near infrared light with the composite material. Following detection, the method analyzes a spectrum of the near infrared light to detect foreign object debris upon the composite material. The method analyzes the spectrum of near infrared light by distinguishing between different types of foreign object debris as a result of comparing the spectrum of near infrared light to predefined spectral signatures of a plurality of different types of foreign object debris. The method may also determine the size and location of the foreign object debris.

Abstract: A system for measuring thermal degradation of composites, may include a housing having an interior with an opening shaped to expose a test area of the composite to be tested to the interior; a light-emitting diode that emits primarily ultraviolet radiation, the diode mounted on the housing to direct the ultraviolet radiation into the interior and through the opening; an image sensor mounted on the housing and open to the interior to receive radiation emitted from the test area passing through the opening into the interior; and an image processor connected to receive a signal from the image sensor, the image processor determining a presence or absence of thermal degradation of the test area in response to the signal.

Abstract: A cutting blade includes a blade support and a plurality of teeth forming a serrated front portion of the blade support. At least one of the plurality of teeth has a length extending in a direction transverse of the blade support and terminating in a pointed tip.

Abstract: A multispectral imaging system and method and a system for composite layup are provided in order to detect foreign object debris during the fabrication of a composite structure. In the context of a method, a surface of a composite material is illuminated with near infrared light. The method also detects the near infrared light following interaction of the near infrared light with the composite material. Following detection, the method analyzes a spectrum of the near infrared light to detect foreign object debris upon the composite material. The method analyzes the spectrum of near infrared light by distinguishing between different types of foreign object debris as a result of comparing the spectrum of near infrared light to predefined spectral signatures of a plurality of different types of foreign object debris. The method may also determine the size and location of the foreign object debris.

Abstract: A method of determining a physical property of a composite material includes providing a series of composite materials/surfacing films, which are subjected to increasing thermal experience to create a set of thermal effect standards, collecting mid-IR spectra on those standards, performing data pre-processing and then multivariate calibration on the spectra of the composite materials/surfacing films, and using that calibration to predict the thermal effect for samples in question.

Abstract: A method of predicting thermal or chemical effect in a painted or coated composite material includes generating a calibration model, providing a composite material having a coating layer, irradiating the coating layer with infrared energy, detecting infrared energy reflected from the coating layer and predicting a thermal or chemical history of the coating layer using the calibration model and the infrared energy reflected from the coating layer.

Abstract: There is provided a method of monitoring for the presence of phosphate esters in jet fuel. The method comprises obtaining from a jet fuel source a jet fuel test sample suspected of containing phosphate esters. The method further comprises combining the jet fuel test sample with a polar solvent and a nonpolar solvent to form a mixture. The method further comprises agitating the mixture. The method further comprises extracting the polar solvent from the mixture. The method further comprises performing a combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometer analysis of the polar solvent to monitor for the presence of any phosphate esters and to obtain an actual concentration level of any phosphate esters. The method further comprises comparing the actual concentration level of any phosphate esters with a calibration standard concentration of phosphate esters in clean jet fuel.

Abstract: A system for surface resin thickness measurement on a fiber reinforced polmer composite includes a holding fixture configured to match a contour of a composite part in which a resin thickness is to be measured, a plurality of infrared measurement sensors in the holding fixture which can be moved along the surface to create a map of the surface to be measured, a computer-based data acquisition system interfacing with the plurality of infrared measurement sensors and calibration software supporting the data acquisition system.

Abstract: There is provided a method of monitoring for the presence of phosphate esters in jet fuel. The method comprises obtaining from a jet fuel source a jet fuel test sample suspected of containing phosphate esters. The method further comprises combining the jet fuel test sample with a polar solvent and a nonpolar solvent to form a mixture. The method further comprises agitating the mixture. The method further comprises extracting the polar solvent from the mixture. The method further comprises performing a combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometer analysis of the polar solvent to monitor for the presence of any phosphate esters and to obtain an actual concentration level of any phosphate esters. The method further comprises comparing the actual concentration level of any phosphate esters with a calibration standard concentration of phosphate esters in clean jet fuel.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring coating thickness upon a substrate containing directionally oriented elements is disclosed. A near infrared light is directed upon the coating and reflected near infrared light is collected to determine the coating thickness. A pair of stacked and crossed diffuser elements is placed between the light source and the sample, and between the sample and the reflected near infrared light collector to improve the accuracy of the measurement, especially for coating thickness of less than about 2 mils and for coatings on substrates containing directionally oriented components. Each diffuser element is formed of a polytetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymer (PTFE) film.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of classifying a polymer containing surface is provided including collecting one or more spectra of infrared energy reflected from the surface over a spectrum of wavelengths; performing multivariate processing at one or more wavelengths; comparing results of the multivariate processing with one or more predetermined material classification models derived from model material infrared energy spectra collected from one or more model material surfaces, the one or more model material surfaces each having a known polymer material composition; and, sorting the polymer containing surface into the proper class based on a similarity of the results of the multivariate processing at one or more wavelengths with the predetermined material classification models.

Abstract: A method of determining degree of aging of an incompletely cured polymer resin material collecting IR spectra on a series of standards with carefully controlled aging time and data collected at appropriate time intervals with the standard LC method for determining cure condition of the material, using said spectra and LC data to make a multivariate calibration model and using said model to predict the cure condition of uncured samples of interest.

Abstract: A method of determining a film coating thickness on a substrate and/or amount one or more compositional ingredients of said film coating including making mid-IR spectra of a series of coating thickness or coating weight standards (and/or composition standards) on an appropriate substrate material to match sample material in question, pre-processing the data to prepare it for multivariate calibration methods, performing the multivariate calibration, saving the calibration model in the hand-held mid-IR device in an appropriate format, and using the calibration model to predict sample material in question from their mid IR spectra.

Abstract: A process using environmentally friendly materials for restoring a surface of an epoxy graphite composite material that has been degraded by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. An example process includes steps of providing a gelled solvent composition, applying the gelled solvent composition to a degraded surface of an epoxy graphite composite material, and thereafter removing the gelled solvent composition to produce a restored surface. The process uses a novel gelled solvent composition comprising one or more non-halogenated organic solvents, a thickening agent, an abrasive agent, and water; wherein the gelled solvent composition has an evaporative weight loss that is lower than the evaporative weight loss of the one or more non-halogenated solvents.