This information is reprinted with permission from the DERAKANE NEWS , The Dow Chemical Company, Vol.

. 15, Issue 3, January 1997

Because physical inspection of a composite laminate tends to be destructive, visual inspection is usually the method of choice for evaluating composite equipment. This is a list of defects that may aid in the identification of fabrication problems, facilitating their correction & ensuring the ultimate strength & corrosion resistance of the composite part. Potential Problem / Defect : "Air Bubbles , Voids" Nature of Defect : Air entrapment between plies, non-interconnected spherical voids Possible Causes : (Whipping action during mixing) (Poor or dirty surface) (Air bubbles not rolled out during lay-up) Potential Problem / Defect : "Blisters" Nature of Defect : Rounded, sometimes sharply defined elevations of laminate surface Possible Causes : (Cure too rapid) (Moisture in resin, filler or glass) Potential Problem / Defect : "Impact Cracks" Nature of Defect : Separation of materials through thickness and visible on surface Possible Causes : (Impact) (Insufficient reinforcement) (High concentration of resin) Potential Problem / Defect : "Crazing" Nature of Defect : Pattern of fine cracks on or beneath surface Possible Causes : (Isolated resin-rich area) (Impact) (Intermittent service causing temperature differences) (Wet / Dry cycling) (Resin shrinkage) Potential Problem / Defect : "Delamination" Nature of Defect : Separation of layers Possible Causes : (Poor glass saturation) (Dirty surface) (Glass content too high) (Failure to remove air-inhibition coat before adding layer) Potential Problem / Defect : "Fisheye" Nature of Defect : Small globular mass not blended into surrounding material, particlarly evident in transparent or translucent materials Possible Causes : (Dirty surface) (Foreign matter falling on resin) Potential Problem / Defect : "Dry spots" Nature of Defect : Area of reinforcement not wetted with resin (usually at laminate edge)

Possible Causes : (Not enough resin used, applies mostly to molding operations) Potential Problem / Defect : "Pimple" Nature of Defect : Small, sharp or conical pimple-like elevation on surface Possible Causes : (Dripped resin or small bubble) (Worked on area after resin has started to cure) Potential Problem / Defect : "Pit or Pinhole" Nature of Defect : Small regular or irregular crater on surface, usually with nearly equal width and depth Possible Causes : (Air bubbles that rise to surface which cure before smoothing out) Potential Problem / Defect : "Resin pocket" Nature of Defect : Apparent accumulation of excess resin in a small, localized area Possible Causes : (Improper lay-up in which glass separates and voids fill with resin) Potential Problem / Defect : "Scratch" Nature of Defect : Shallow mark, groove, furrow or channel Possible Causes : (Improper handling or storage) Potential Problem / Defect : "Wrinkle" Nature of Defect : reinforcement Possible Causes : (Improper lay-up) (Too rapid cure) (Use of old resin) (Fold in release film on the mold)