Fiber Orientation and Distribution Measurement in a Composite Polymer

Fiber Orientation and Distribution

Measurement in a Composite Polymer
Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific - Software Apr 17 2024

The determination of fiber orientation within composite polymers is a critical parameter for
the prediction of a material’s behavior. Over time, different methods have been developed
to obtain an estimate of the distribution and orientation of reinforcing fiber materials, which
works with a fair level of approximation in global modeling.

However, when a local behavior must be studied or more precision is desired in the
mathematical modeling of materials, a far more accurate analysis can be carried out,
consisting of the combination of computer-aided tomography (CT) and image processing
software.

Image Credit: Akimov Igor/Shutterstock.com

A Challenging Sample to Image

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Fiber Orientation and Distribution Measurement in a Composite Polymer

Benhui Yu et al. described their process very accurately and selected a rather challenging
sample to validate their workflow. They combined natural rubber with carbon black, other
additives, and short polyester fibers in a mixer at a rolling temperature ranging between 40
and 50 Celsius.

The mixing process resulted in a composite polymer made of material with very comparable
density (1.4g/cm3 for the polyester fibers vs ~1g/cm3 for the resulting rubber). This poses a
challenge for CT scans, as the difference in density among materials is what provides
contrast in datasets resulting from this imaging technique.

When imaging such a sample, the scanner’s sensitivity must be increased to distinguish
between the two materials in the results. However, the increase in sensitivity comes at a
cost in terms of field of view, so the original 3 x 3 x 2.4 mm sample could not be fully
scanned. The team, therefore, focused on a subvolume of 1.05 x 1.05 x 1.05 mm.

Converting Images in Actionable Numerical Information

Once the scan is completed, imaging reconstruction software needs to be used. This
software converts the scan into a 3D model that can be further investigated.

The reconstruction algorithms have a strong dependency on the operational parameters, so

most CT users tend to rely on the software provided with their hardware for the
reconstruction.

This is similar to what the team previously did, which involved transferring the data to the
image processing software Avizo for visualization, segmentation, and measurement of the
fibers in the sample.

The team utilized the software features to remove noise and acquisition artifacts from the
dataset, obtaining data that was easier to segment. They then proceeded to identify the
polyester fibers using a segmentation algorithm based on image binarization. The result of
the algorithm provided the team with a visual representation of the fiber network inside the
material.

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Fiber Orientation and Distribution Measurement in a Composite Polymer

Images of polyester short fibers reconstructed using Thermo Scientific™ Avizo™ Software.
Image Credit: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103726

Now that the fibers have been identified, the next natural step is correlating the visuals with
a numerical output. The team focused on a full characterization approach and used Avizo
Software functionalities to measure the number of fibers, their length, and their orientation
in space: all properties that help material scientists obtain more accurate mathematical
models that describe composite materials behaviors, especially when undergoing shear
stress of compression or tension.

Learn more: Introduction to Avizo Software for composite materials

characterization webinar

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Fiber Orientation and Distribution Measurement in a Composite Polymer

References and Further Reading

Yu, B.; Ren, J.; Wang, K.; Wang, C.; Bian, H. Experimental Study on the Characterization of
Orientation of Polyester Short Fibers in Rubber Composites by an X-ray Three-Dimensional
Microscope. Materials 2022, 15, 3726. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103726

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Fiber Orientation and Distribution Measurement in a Composite Polymer

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