Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sofemaonline.com considers the type of defects which may be encountered during the inspection of Aircraft Composite Material. Disbond Disbond is the separation between laminates, e.g. a bonded joint, or the separation of a laminate skin from honeycomb core material. Early detection of disbond is important because it may provide an indication of imminent…

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers Best Practices and Challenges related to Composite Material TAP Hammer Testing. To provide the most effective inspection requires a competent Inspector who can provide the skill level necessary to support the task. Introduction Composite materials, such as carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP), are increasingly used in modern aircraft due to their…

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com considers the necessary cleaning procedures employed in the preparation of aircraft composite panels prior to the visual inspection and tap testing. Introduction – Tooling & Equipment Required Safety goggles Gloves Lint-free wipes or cloths Mild detergent or composite-approved cleaning solution: – Examples include Methyl Ethyl Keytone (MEK) & Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) (Always…

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS)  www.sassofia.com considers the role of Quality within the process of TAP Testing Inspections including setting organisational standards, managing a consistent inspection process and ensuring the correct documentation of findings. Tap Testing can identify a variety of defects including delamination, disbonding, voids, inclusions, porosity, and other inconsistencies in composite materials. To ensure the…