Challenge to Visualization of Structure inside Rubber Products by Terahertz Radiation

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) radiation, which exists between microwave and infrared electromagnetic region, has characteristics of penetration without any destruction into materials like radio wave and X ray. This merit enables us to expect that the THz light is useful for non-destructive inspection of industrial products such as plastics and polymers including rubbers. Our research group is investigating possibilities of estimation of various rubber conditions using THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). In this article, what kind of information we could obtained inside rubber products by THz radiation is focused and explained based on our previous and new unpublished experimental results.