ASTM International

Standard Practice for Infrared Flash Thermography of Composite Panels and Repair Patches Used in Aerospace Applications
 N E2582

Annotation

This practice describes a procedure for detecting subsurface flaws in composite panels and repair patches using Flash Thermography (FT), in which an infrared (IR) camera is used to detect anomalous cooling behavior of a sample surface after it has been heated with a spatially uniform light pulse from a flash lamp array.

This practice describes established FT test methods that are currently used by industry, and have demonstrated utility in quality assurance of composite structures during postmanufacturing and in-service examinations.

This practice has utility for testing of polymer composite panels and repair patches containing, but not limited to, bismaleimide, epoxy, phenolic, poly(amide imide), polybenzimidazole, polyester (thermosetting and thermoplastic), poly(ether ether ketone), poly(ether imide), polyimide (thermosetting and thermoplastic), poly(phenylene sulfide), or polysulfone matrices; and alumina, aramid, boron, carbon, glass, quartz, or silicon carbide fibers. Typical asfabricated geometries include uniaxial, cross ply and angle ply laminates; as well as honeycomb core sandwich core materials.

This practice has utility for testing of ceramic matrix composite panels containing, but not limited to, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and carbon matrix and fibers.

This practice applies to polymer or ceramic matrix composite structures with inspection surfaces that are sufficiently optically opaque to absorb incident light, and that have sufficient emissivity to allow monitoring of the surface temperature with an IR camera. Excessively thick samples, or samples with low thermal diffusivities, require long acquisition periods and yield weak signals approaching background and noise levels, and may be impractical for this technique.