System for measuring thermal degradation of composites and method of making and using

A system for measuring thermal degradation of composites, the system comprising:

• a probe having
• a cylindrical body having a top opening, a bottom opening, and a central axis;
• a bottom cover enclosing the bottom opening and including a lower central aperture concentric with the central axis;
• an upper concave mirror mounted in the cylindrical body and facing the bottom cover, the upper concave mirror having an upper reflective surface and an upper central orifice concentric with the central axis;
• a lower concave mirror mounted in the cylindrical body and facing the upper concave mirror, the lower concave mirror having a lower reflective surface and a lower central orifice concentric with the central axis;
• a source of actinic radiation positioned within the cylindrical body between the upper concave mirror and the lower concave mirror on the central axis and positioned to direct actinic radiation along the central axis through the lower central orifice and the lower central aperture;
• and
• a camera mounted on the cylindrical body and having an image sensor positioned concentrically relative to the upper central orifice;
• and
• a display connected to the camera for displaying an image of radiation emitted from a test area exposed to the actinic radiation and collected by the image sensor;
• wherein the bottom cover is adjustable relative to the cylindrical body to provide a focusing function to the image on the display.

A method for making a probe for use in measuring thermal degradation of composites, the method comprising:

• mounting a source of actinic radiation within a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having a bottom opening and a central axis;
• attaching a lower concave mirror to the cylindrical body, the lower concave mirror having a lower reflective surface facing the source of actinic radiation and a lower central orifice concentric with the central axis;
• mounting an upper concave mirror in the cylindrical body, the upper concave mirror having an upper reflective surface facing the lower reflective surface and the source of actinic radiation, the upper concave mirror having an upper central orifice concentric with the central axis, such that the source of actinic radiation is between the upper concave mirror and the lower concave mirror on the central axis and positioned to direct actinic radiation along the central axis through the lower central orifice;
• mounting a camera on the cylindrical body, the camera having an image sensor positioned concentrically relative to the upper central orifice;
• and
• attaching a bottom cover to the cylindrical body, the bottom cover enclosing the bottom opening and including a lower central aperture concentric with the central axis;
• wherein the bottom cover is adjustable relative to the cylindrical body to provide a focusing function to the emitted radiation received by the image sensor by varying a distance from the lower central orifice and the upper reflective surface.