Beta ray monitoring technique for control of resin content in continuous fibre prepreg materials

Abstract

A beta ray monitoring technique has been developed to measure the resin content during the manufacture of preimpregnated fibre (prepreg) unidirectional tapes by a solution impregnation process. A series of calibration relationships have been obtained for aramid, carbon and glass fibre reinforced epoxy prepreg tapes, and the effect of variation of the fibre areal weight on measuring accuracy has been analysed. Good agreements with resin content have been demonstrated using the beta ray system and conventional solvent extraction method. Moreover, online control of the resin content has been carried out by adjusting the concentration of resin in the impregnation bath.