Nanoparticles Dispersion Assessment by a Novel Pulsed Laser‐Induced Micro Thermography Technique

ABSTRACT This work wants to propose an innovative nondestructive pulsed thermographic approach utilizing a nanosecond pulsed laser as a heat source for assessing the presence of nanoparticles aggregates in nanocomposites. Different degrees of dispersion levels of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enriched epoxy resin nanocomposites were investigated with a cooled infrared camera equipped with a macro lens to improve the geometric resolution of the images (up to 6 μm). The technique successfully exploits the concentrated energy flux delivered by the laser in a short time, allowing for a significant improvement in energetic resolution. CNTs clusters with sizes as low as 6.8 μm were identified by image analysis algorithms as embedded in the matrix with well‐defined contours. This research represents a significant advancement in image quality and time reduction for fast non‐destructive evaluations (NDE) in the field of nanocomposites. In turn, the process is suitable for automated in‐line quality control of manufactured parts that must meet desired specifications.