Patent ID: 6510358
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An impregnation process, which comprises:impregnating a carrier material with an impregnation medium, so that a dielectric constant of the carrier material changes; measuring a measured variable dependent upon the dielectric constant; and determining a functional interrelationship between a reference impregnation and the measured variable and drawing a conclusion from the functional interrelationship as to an impregnation of the carrier material, the functional interrelationship being determined with reference to the steps of: defining a degree of the impregnation as a ratio of an impregnated to an unimpregnated volume of the carrier material; setting up a sequence of degrees of the impregnation with predetermined process parameters, and allocating the reference impregnation with a spatial distribution in the carrier material of at least one unimpregnated dry region and at least one impregnated moist region to each of the degrees of the impregnation by using a simulation with reference to a flow model; allocating a first dielectric constant to the at least one unimpregnated dry region and allocating a second dielectric constant to the at least one impregnated moist region; and allocating the measured variable to the reference impregnation with the aid of the first dielectric constant and the second dielectric constant, and thus obtaining the functional interrelationship.