Thermogravimetric Analysis as An Alternative to Traditional Acid Digestion for Determining Fiber Content in CFRP Composites

Fiber content is one of the primary quantities that controls the properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, and it has traditionally been measured through standard acid digestion procedures.  Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is now being explored as a safer, faster, and cheaper alternative to acid digestion for the determination of fiber content in CFRPs.  TGA eliminates the use of costly, hazardous strong acids and oxidizers required by acid digestion, and it requires far smaller sample quantities to obtain results within an acceptable error range.  In addition, TGA requires only a fraction of the time it takes to perform acid digestion and is thus a far more efficient alternative.  The possible effects of sample geometry, sample size, and operating conditions used for TGA are being investigated to determine whether some combination thereof gives the most reproducible and accurate results when compared with traditional acid digestion results.