Detection and Imaging of Damage and Defects in Fiber-Reinforced Composites by 3D Computed Tomography Resonance Magnetic Technique

Damaged and defective fiber-reinforced polymer composites were inspected by magnetic resonance imaging. Nondestructive examination was conducted with samples immersed in saline water solution simulating biofluids permanently in contact with load-bearing orthopedic implants. Size, geometry, orientation and positioning of translaminar and delamination fractures in the test pieces were characterized. In this regard, translaminar damages required all primary imaging planes, namely, axial, coronal and sagittal to be fully portrayed, whereas only sagittal slicing was demanded for entire depiction of delaminations. Size and spatial distribution of water clusters formed in composite samples, as well as surface finishing features of the specimens were also outlined. The evaluated imaging technique has shown high potential for nondestructive inspection of fiber-reinforced polymer parts operating in liquid proton-rich media.