FTIR Moisture Measurement for Fiber Composites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the moisture content of fiber composite components are limited in accuracy, particularly in assessing the total moisture content due to the low penetration depth of IR radiation, which only reliably measures moisture near the surface.
Innovation Solution
A method involving FTIR measurements to create a spectrum-based prediction model for surface moisture content and a diffusion-based prediction model for total moisture content, using a determination cycle with controlled temperature and humidity to analyze the diffusion behavior of reference and actual fiber composite components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If infrared spectroscopy is used to measure moisture content, then the measurement process is simple and fast, but the penetration depth is limited and only surface moisture can be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses surface moisture content as an intermediary parameter to infer total moisture content. By measuring surface moisture with FTIR and using it as input for a diffusion model, the system indirectly determines total moisture content without requiring direct deep penetration measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct physical penetration measurement with a computational modeling approach. Instead of using IR radiation that physically penetrates the material, the system substitutes mathematical diffusion models that simulate moisture transport to infer total moisture from surface measurements.
2Measurement precision
If a diffusion model is created using reference measurements at different temperatures and humidities, then total moisture content can be determined accurately, but the measurement and evaluation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements on reference components with known moisture content at different temperatures and humidities before actual measurement. These preliminary data are used to pre-calculate and store diffusion coefficients and prediction models, so that during actual measurement, only simple FTIR spectroscopy and model evaluation are needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs more measurements than strictly necessary by conducting FTIR measurements at multiple time points during the determination cycle and at different environmental conditions. This excessive measurement approach ensures sufficient data for robust model creation and improves measurement reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the determination of the total moisture content of fiber composite components with high accuracy by correlating surface moisture changes with the overall moisture content, providing a reliable and simple method for moisture measurement.
Implementation Method 1
Acquisition of initial reference infrared spectra from the surfaces of reference fiber composite components, each exhibiting a defined reference moisture content, using FTIR measurements
Implementation Method 2
Exposure of the surfaces of the reference fiber composite components to an initial temperature and an initial relative humidity for a predetermined initial period
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention describes a method for determining the moisture content of a fiber composite component (100), wherein a spectrum-based prediction model is first generated from infrared spectra recorded by FTIR measurements on surfaces (1a; 2a; 3a) of reference fiber composite components (1; 2; 3). In a determination cycle, a reference diffusion behavior of the reference fiber composite components (1; 2; 3) is determined using the spectrum-based prediction model, and a diffusion-based prediction model for the moisture content is generated from the reference diffusion behavior. Furthermore, the determination cycle is carried out for the fiber composite component (100), and its actual diffusion behavior is determined. The moisture content of the fiber composite component is then determined from this actual diffusion behavior using the diffusion-based prediction model.Furthermore, the invention describes a measuring system for determining the moisture content of the fiber composite component (100) as well as a non-volatile, computer-readable memory.