QUALITY-CONTROL OF MIXED GLASS AND CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED NYLON COMPOSITES BY SIMULTANEOUS DIFFERENTIAL-THERMAL ANALYSIS AND THERMOGRAVIMETRY

Simultaneous differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry (DTA-T G) was applied to quality control of nylon 6,6 composites reinforced w ith mixed glass and carbon fibres. A methodology is described for the evaluation of 13 parameters of virgin and waste composite materials. T hree significant parameters were identified for quality control of the composites using statistical methods. The application of the testing method to prepared test composites showed a good agreement between res ults and performance of this composite using impact testing. Simultane ous DTA-TG is a fast, small sample-consuming tool for quality control testing on the title composites and is potentially appropriate for oth er composites reinforced with mixed fibres. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.