Abstract: The invention is related to composite materials that enable the detection of imperfections through non-destructive testing. The composite material may include several constituent materials. One of these constituent materials may include cavities of a predetermined or random shape that are arranged at predetermined or random locations. Another constituent material may at least partially fill at least some of these cavities during manufacturing of the composite material. A method for non-destructively detecting imperfections in such a composite material may involve receiving an image of the composite material that shows at least some cavities and detecting imperfections in the composite material based on an inspection of the image.

Abstract: The invention is related to composite materials that enable the detection of imperfections through non-destructive testing. The composite material may include several constituent materials. One of these constituent materials may include cavities of a predetermined or random shape that are arranged at predetermined or random locations. Another constituent material may at least partially fill at least some of these cavities during manufacturing of the composite material. A method for non-destructively detecting imperfections in such a composite material may involve receiving an image of the composite material that shows at least some cavities and detecting imperfections in the composite material based on an inspection of the image.

Abstract: A method of forming a fiber reinforced composite structure having a fiber volume fraction (14) below 50 vol.-% using vacuum bag molding, the method comprising the steps of placing an assembly of fiber laminates (3) on a tool surface (1.1), creating a predetermined maximum difference of pressure (10) between the inside and the outside of an airtight envelope (4), infusing resin into the assembly of fiber laminates (3), reducing the difference of pressure between the inside and the outside of the airtight envelope (4), so that the assembly of fiber laminates (3) expands and the infusion of resin into the assembly of fiber laminates (3) continues thus forming a resin infused assembly of fiber laminates (3), and curing the resin infused assembly of fiber laminates (3).

Abstract: A method of forming a fiber reinforced composite structure having a fiber volume fraction (14) below 50 vol.-% using vacuum bag molding, the method comprising the steps of placing an assembly of fiber laminates (3) on a tool surface (1.1), creating a predetermined maximum difference of pressure (10) between the inside and the outside of an airtight envelope (4), infusing resin into the assembly of fiber laminates (3), reducing the difference of pressure between the inside and the outside of the airtight envelope (4), so that the assembly of fiber laminates (3) expands and the infusion of resin into the assembly of fiber laminates (3) continues thus forming a resin infused assembly of fiber laminates (3), and curing the resin infused assembly of fiber laminates (3).