Characterization of heterogeneous matrix composites using scanning acoustic microscopy

Abstract

Acoustic microscopy was used to examine the morphology of multi-phase matrices and composites. The acoustic microscopy imaging could easily resolve the rubber domains dispersed within a thermosetting or thermoplastic continuous phase. However, because the thermoplastic and thermosetting phase domains had comparable elastic moduli, the resolution between them was not always clear. Rayleigh wave distortion of imaging remained as one of the serious limitations that needed to be overcome in order for this technique to be widely utilized in heterogeneous/anisotropic media. In its present form, the acoustic imaging technique can be used to augment other existing analytical tools in order to generate more detailed morphological information that is useful in understanding structure-property relationships for multi-phase toughened matrices used in advanced composites.