Enabling Automated Quality Control in Composites

Manufacturers often struggle with production anomalies that can be traced back to material deviations. These can cause fluctuations in material flow, cooling, and cure according to environmental influences and/or batch-to-batch variations. Today’s competitive environment demands cost-efficient, error-free production using automated production and stable processes. As industries advance new bio-based, faster reacting and increased recycled content materials and faster processes, how can manufacturers quickly establish and maintain quality control?

In-mold dielectric sensors paired with data analytics technology enable manufacturers to:
- Determine glass transition temperature in real time
- Monitor material deviations such as resin mix ratio, aging, and batch-to-batch variations throughout the process
- Predict the influence of deviations or material defects during the process
-See the progression of curing and demold the part when the desired degree of cure, Tg or crystallinity is achieved
- Document resin mix ratios using snap-cure resins for qualification and certification of RTM parts

Successful case histories with real parts illustrate how sensXPERT sensors, machine learning, and material models monitor, predict, and optimize production to compensate for deviations. This Digital Mold technology has enabled manufacturers to reduce scrap by up to 50% and generated energy savings of up to 23%.