Determination of the Fiber Content of Composites by Thermogravimetric Analysis

To determine the content of fiber material in a composite using thermogravimetric analysis – a quality control application.
Resins are frequently filled or reinforced with very different types of material in order to improve their mechanical and thermal properties. Organic fillers and reinforcing materials (e.g. wood powder) increase the toughness of a plastic. The addition of fibers can result in a major increase in stiffness and structural strength. Besides natural organic fibers such as jute and sisal, synthetic inorganic fibers (e.g. glass and carbon fibers) and organic fibers such as aramid are widely used for reinforcement purposes. Aramid fibers consist of poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide and are remarkable for their high tensile strength and their relatively high decomposition temperature of about 550 °C.

_{Determination of the Fiber Content of Composites by Thermogravimetric Analysis | Thermal Analysis Application No. HB 57 | Application published in METTLER TOLEDO TA Application Handbook Thermosets Volume 2}