• Wang, Ling
• Buxton, A.
• Dulieu-Barton, J. M.
• Dance, B. G.
• Wood, Robert J. K.
• Ang, K. C.

Abstract

Surfi-Sculpt® is a novel electron beam (EB) direct writing technique invented at TWI. The process utilises an intense beam of electrons to displace material on the surface. Complex surface modifications can be produced including the manufacture of protrusions or pits ranging from a few tens of microns to several millimetres high or deep. The complex surface shapes, large angles of obliquity and overhangs of these sculpted features pose massive challenges to their surface characterisation. A review of existing rough surface characterisation techniques shows that there are no accepted methods available for such grossly textured surfaces. Thus, this paper focuses the development of new technologies to enable characterisation of EB sculpted surface features.<br/><br/>Pulse Phase Thermography (PPT) has been used to examine defects and damage in metal and composite structure [ , ]. The technology utilizes an infrared detector to record the surface temperature evolution when the specimen is being heated with a pulsed heat source like the photographic flash light. A capture in video mode up to 269 images per second, leads to the development of a time history with respect to the heat pulse. Phase data is then used as a source for quantitative analysis to enable features with different depths to be distinguished. <br/><br/>Feasibility tests of transmission and reflection modes of PPT on complex surface features of blind holes with various depths are used as groundwork for surface feature recognition and measurement. Verification of three-dimensional surface topographical results obtained by PPT will be using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro computed tomography (CT).

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• surface
• phase
• scanning electron microscopy
• tomography
• composite
• defect
• quantitative determination method
• thermography