Development and implementation of an alternative method for the determination of the fiber volume content of CFRP laminates

The fiber volume content (FVC) is a parameter that determines the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of composite materials; it is therefore very important to be able to determine it accurately. Thus two methods (burn–off method and improved thickness method) for the determination of it were developed and implemented with the aim of providing an alternative to the current acid dissolution method that is laborious, dangerous and polluting. The two methods were carried out on a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) braided laminate and the results were compared to those ones obtained by acid dissolution which were used as reference values.