The inserted piezoelectric sensor method for monitoring thermosets cure

An original method enabling the in-situ and real time monitoring of a polymer structure evolution using an inserted piezoelectric sensor is presented. The validation of this technique is done at constant temperature by comparison to the results obtained on several polymers by classical ultrasonic methods in practically the same conditions. The complete validation is achieved by monitoring the complex cure of a polymer matrix fibre reinforced composite PMR-15 under sever conditions of temperature.