Microwave and Joule Heating Visualization by a Thermo-Elastic Microscope for Carbon Composite Materials

Microwave heating visualization for the carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone composite material was implemented using the thermo-elastic optical indicator microscopy (TEOIM) system. Losses of an anisotropic composite material were characterized due to the microwave radiation influence. TEOIM visualization showed that the near-field distribution stretches along the composite material high conductivity axis and takes different forms when some defects in the composite material were analyzed.The visualized microwave heat was measured to be 0.2 K when the probe feeding power was around 15 dBm.The Obtained microwave heat visualization data was in good agreement with the simulated result. Additionally, noninvasive Joule heating (around 1 K) made by 0.3 A DC flux was observed in order to characterize mechanical faults in a composite material.