Nondestructive Inspection Technology in Quality Systems for Automotive Plastics and Composites

ISSUES IMPACTING QUALITY IN PLASTICS and polymer composite components arise throughout the range of the product life cycle. If cost-conscious quality is to be realized, these issues must be dealt with in design, material selection, manufacturing and assembly processes as well as in cost-effective reliable approaches to in-process and post-process inspection. This overview presents quality concepts, and some examples of procedures and inspection technologies, that comprise a system for supporting quality in automotive processes and products involving polymer composites and plastics. The inspection examples include the use of infrared, ultrasonics and X-rays to support process optimization and assure quality.