Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Uses Agilent Technologies’ Handheld Spectrometer to Measure Thermal Exposure of Composite Structure

10-21-2011: Agilent Technologies Inc. announced the Agilent 4100 ExoScan handheld Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was added to Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner service repair manual for its ability to evaluate thermal exposure of the aircraft’s composite elements.

The fuselage, wings and other major components of Boeing’s much-anticipated 787 Dreamliner are constructed of an advanced carbon-fiber composite, requiring new, non-destructive methods to inspect for potential damage. Following multi-year studies, the Agilent 4100 ExoScan was found to be an ideal instrument to measure the degree of thermal exposure on the fuselage and other carbon-fiber components.

“The 4100 ExoScan system continues to create new opportunities for FTIR spectroscopy in applications where the system must be used in demanding, out-of-lab situations,” said Philip Binns, Agilent vice president for spectroscopy products. “With the expanding use of composite materials in the aerospace industry, we are pleased that the ExoScan FTIR system can make a meaningful contribution to efficient manufacturing and maintenance of aircraft.”