CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITE MATERIALS

1.0 Introduction
Advanced Fibre Reinforced Pla!ic "FRP# co$%oi!e &ave e$er'ed a an
i$%or!an! cla of en'ineerin' $a!erial for load bearin' a%%lica!ion (i!& all ro)nd
%ro%er!ie for $an* en'ineerin' and ocial a%%lica!ion+ T&ee %la!ic $a!ri, co$%oi!e
*!e$ can be divided in!o fibre reinforced !&er$oe! $a!ri, co$%oi!e- fibre
reinforced !&er$o%la!ic and $a!ri, co$%oi!e+ A varie!* of $an)fac!)rin' $e!&od
are bein' )ed for $a.in' %rod)c! o)! of !&ee $a!erial+
1.1 Definition
Co$%oi!e are $a!erial crea!ed b* co$binin' dissimilar $a!erial (i!& a vie(
!o improve !&e %ro%er!ie or !o crea!e $a!erial (i!& desired %ro%er!ie+
S.No. Material Specific
gravity
gm/cc
Tensile
strength,!a
"lastic
modulus,!a
Specific
strength
1 Al)$in)$ allo* /+0 1+23 4/ 1+13
/ Ti!ani)$ 2+5 1+67 111 1+/1
7 S!eel allo* 4+0 1+66 /14 1+17
2 E-8la9E%o,*":f
;1+25#
/+52 1+1 21 1+27
Ta#le$ 1.1 %omparison of the properties of metals and &'%
1+/ (hy %omposites
Co$%oi!e $a!erial are bein' develo%ed and $ade (i!& !(o .ind of ob<ec!ive=
i+ To en&ance !&e $a!erial %ro%er!ie and %erfor$ance efficienc*+
ii+ To dei'n $a!erial (i!& co$bina!ion of deired %ro%er!ie+
1+7 %lassification of %omposites
Co$%oi!e can be broadl* divided baed on !&e (a* !&e* ca$e in!o e,i!ence- !&e level
a! (&ic& !&e* are co$%oed- !&eir !r)c!)re and !&e $a!ri, *!e$ )ed+
1.).1 Natural and Manmade %omposites
>aed on !&e (a* !&e co$%oi!e 'o! !&eir e,i!ence- !&e* are divided in!o na!)ral and
$an$ade co$%oi!e+
a. Natural %omposites$ T&ee are co$%oi!e bein' crea!ed b* na!)re+ Na!)re &a been
$a.in' co$%oi!e for all i! livin' or'ani$+ >one- .in- $)cle- &ell of bee!le- &orn
of r&ino- (ood- ba$boo e!c are all co$%oi!e bein' $ade b* na!)re+ Na!)ral co$%oi!e
&ave cer!ain baic fea!)re
"i# Na!)ral co$%oi!e are $ade b* !&e biolo'ical ro)!e b* 'ro(in' !&e$+ Hence-
!&e %rod)c!ion of !&ee co$%oi!e doe no! %oll)!e !&e a!$o%&ere a in !&e
c&e$ical %roce+
"ii# All na!)ral or'anic co$%oi!e are biode'radable
"iii# Na!)ral co$%oi!e are !&e $o! ener'* efficien! $a!erial and are !r)c!)rall*
and f)nc!ionall* ver* efficien!+
"iv# Perfor$ance coni!enc* i no! !&a! 'ood+
"v# Pro%er!ie of na!)ral co$%oi!e canno! be varied a in $an $ade co$%oi!e+
Hence- )er &a !o &a%e !&e$ a )c& !o $a.e %rod)c!+
"vi# T&e fibre of na!)ral co$%oi!e can be )ed for $a.in' $an $ade
co$%oi!e
# Man made %omposites $T&ee are co$%oi!e crea!ed b* &)$an bein' !&ro)'& !&eir
o(n innova!ion and effor!+ Man $ade co$%oi!e can be divided in!o
"i# Tradi!ional co$%oi!e
"ii# Advanced co$%oi!e
"i# Traditional %omposites$ T&ere are everal $*!&olo'ical reference and &i!orical
evidence !o &o( !&a! co$%oi!e in cer!ain cr)de for$ (ere $ade )e of d)rin' !&e
earl* %eriod of civilia!ion+ Ho(ever- co$%oi!e a a $an $ade con!r)c!ion $a!erial
for re')lar )e ca$e in!o e,i!ence onl* (&en ordinar* Por!land ce$en! concre!e and
abe!o ce$en! &ee! and %i%e (ere $ade la!e in !&e 16
!&
cen!)r*+
"ii#+ *dvanced %omposites= T&e i$%e!) for develo%in' !&e %reen! da* advanced
co$%oi!e occ)rred (&en %ol*e!er rein (a fir! develo%ed in 1673 and 'la fibre
(a co$$erciall* $ade b* O(en Cornin' Fiber'la- USA in 1670+ T&e &i!or* of
advanced co$%oi!e !ar!ed o$e!i$e in 162/ (&en 'la fibre %ol*e!er la$ina!e (a
$ade+ + Since !&en- $an* ne( e,o!ic fibre li.e carbon- ara$id- boron- cera$ic fibre-
(&i.er e!c+- (ere develo%ed- ne( %ol*$er (ere *n!&eied and $ore !&an 111-111
!*%e of %rod)c! &ave been $ade o)! of !&ee $a!erial+ T&ee co$%oi!e are called
advanced co$%oi!e- ince !&e* are $ade (i!& e,ce%!ionall* &i'& %ro%er!ie and !&e
co$%oi!e are bein' $ade )in' %recie cien!ific and en'ineerin' %rinci%le+ T&e
co$%oi!e $ade of &ee! $o)ldin' co$%o)nd belon' !o !&i cla of advanced
co$%oi!e+
1.).+ %lassification ,ased -n .evel of %omposition
Co$%oi!e- de%endin' )%on !&e %&*ical i?e of !&e con!i!)en!- are claified in!o
$acro- $icro and nano co$%oi!e+ Concre!e and %l* (ood are co$%oed a! $acro level
"(i!& i?e of con!i!)en! bein' 1 $$ or above# (&erea 8RP- ince 'la fibre are of
$icron "one-!&o)and!& of a $$# i?e dia$e!er- are $icro co$%oi!e+ In nano
co$%oi!e a! lea! one con!i!)en! $)! be a! nano "one-!&o)and!& of a $icron# level+
Par!icle a! nano i?e are no! viible !o !&e na.ed e*e+ T&e biolo'icall* 'ro(n $a!erial
co$%oi!e are nano- co$%oi!e+ T&e $a!erial be&avio)r can var* (i!& !&e i?e of
con!i!)en!+
MACRO MICRO NANO
Nano !ec&nolo'* (&ic& i re%onible for $a.in' nano co$%oi!e i a fa! develo%in'
!ec&nolo'ical conce%! and (ill be in (ide cale )e in !&e co$in' decade+
1.).) %lassification ,ased on Structure of %omposites
All $a!erial !&a! are bein' )ed derive !&eir %ro%er!ie no! onl* fro$ !&e con!i!)en!
"a!o$- $olec)le or $a!erial#- b)! alo fro$ !&e (a* !&e con!i!)en! are !r)c!)red+ For
e,a$%le- bo!& dia$ond and 'ra%&i!e are $ade of carbon- b)! dia$ond (&ic& &a eac&
carbon a!o$ a!!ac&ed !o fo)r carbon a!o$ i !&e &arde! )b!ance- (&erea 'ra%&i!e in
(&ic& carbon a!o$ are confi')red in %lanar for$ i a bri!!le of! elf l)brica!in'
$a!erial+ Carbon fibre (&ic& i !&e fibre )ed for co$%oi!e i $ade b* orien!in' !&e
'ra%&i!e %la!ele!+ Co$%oi!e $ade fro$ a$e fibre and $a!ri, alo can be !r)c!)red
differen!l* b* var*in' !&e ra!io and b* %ac.in' and orien!in' !&e fibre !o 'ive differen!
%ro%er!ie in differen! direc!ion+ T&e $a<or clae of co$%oi!e baed on !&eir
!r)c!)re are !&e follo(in'+
"i# Unia,ial orien!ed fibre co$%oi!e
"ii# >ia,ial orien!ed fibre co$%oi!e
"iii# @ni!!ed- braided- and cro !i!c&ed 7D fibre co$%oi!e
"iv# Rando$ /D and 7D co$%oi!e
"v# Fla.e co$%oi!e
"vi# Par!ic)la!e co$%oi!e
"vii# La$ina!e
"viii# Fila$en! (o)nd la$ina!e
Fi')re 1+1 >aed on !r)c!)re of co$%oi!e
1.)./ %lassification ,ased on Matri0 System
T&e $ain f)nc!ion of !&e $a!ri, i !o bind !&e reinforce$en! and filler !o'e!&er in!o
in'le en!i!* and !o &el% load !ranfer a$on' !&e fibre+ Since $a!ri, i !&e e,!ernall*
viible %ar!ner- !&e colo)r- !e,!)re and rei!ance !o !&e e,!ernal environ$en! i %rovided
b* !&e $a!ri,+ T&e $a!ri, alo )b!an!iall* con!rib)!e !o !&e f)nc!ional %ro%er!ie li.e
&ea! and elec!rical in)la!ion- aco)!ic be&avio)r and (ear and !ear+ De%endin' )%on
(&a! fa$il* of $a!erial i )ed a !&e $a!ri, *!e$- co$%oi!e are claified in!o
"i# Pol*$er $a!ri, co$%oi!e "PMC#
"ii# Me!al Ma!ri, Co$%oi!e "MMC#
"iii# Cera$ic Ma!ri, Co$%oi!e "CMC#
T&e !&ree !*%e of co$%oi!e differ in !&e $an)fac!)rin' $e!&od ado%!ed- $ec&anical
be&avio)r and f)nc!ional c&arac!eri!ic+ A$on' !&e !&ree *!e$- i! i !&e PMC !&a!
&ave (ide cale a%%lica!ion beca)e of !&eir lo(er co!- eae of fabrica!ion and
li'&!(ei'&!+ Ho(ever- !&e PMC $ade of !&e c)rren!l* available %ol*$eric $a!rice
canno! be con!in)o)l* )ed above a !e$%era!)re level of 711AC+ For !e$%era!)re )% !o
1111 de'+ C- MMC can be )ed+ >e*ond !&i !e$%era!)re level- onl* CMC can be )ed
for %rod)c! (i!& lon'er ervice life+ Al)$ini)$- $a'nei)$- !i!ani)$ and !&eir allo*
are !&e $e!allic $a!rice reinforced (i!& fibre- cera$ic %o(der and (&i.er+ >o!&
MMC and CMC &ave no! *e! fo)nd f)ll-cale )e for ind)!rial %rod)c!+
1./ !olymer Matri0 %omposites 1!M%2
PMC are $ade b* addin' a fibre or filler or bo!& !o !&e %ol*$er+ Pol*$er are
$a!erial (i!& !&eir $olec)le in !&e for$ of c&ain of $ono$er+ De%endin' )%on !&e
$olec)lar !r)c!)re and be&avio)ral c&arac!eri!ic- %ol*$er !&e$elve can be
claified in!o !&er$oe! %la!ic- !&er$o%la!ic and ela!o$er+ T&e co$%oi!e $ade
of !&ee !&ree .ind of %ol*$er are alo corre%ondin'l* )bdivided in!o !&ree 'ro)%=
a+ T&er$oe! PMC
b+ T&er$o%la!ic PMC
c+ Elec!ro$e!ric PMC
a. Thermoset !M%$ T&er$oe! %la!ic are %ol*$er in (&ic& !&e lon' %ol*$er c&ain
)nder'o cro lin.in' for$in' o$e(&a! ri'id !r)c!)re+ B&en !&er$oe! %la!ic are
)ed a !&e $a!ri, $a!erial- !&e re)l!in' co$%oi!e are called !&er$oe! PMC+
T&er$oe! rein are ini!iall* available in liC)id or %o(der for$+ T&ee %ol*$er can
)beC)en!l* be cro-lin.ed and conver!ed !o &ard olid !&er$oe! %la!ic+ T&i cro-
lin.in' o%era!ion i called c)rin'+ B&en f)r!&er &ea!ed af!er c)rin'- !&e* canno! $el!
li.e !&er$o%la!ic+ In!ead- !&e* $a* de'rade if !&e !e$%era!)re i &i'& eno)'& !o
brea. !&e $olec)lar c&ain+ Table / li! !&e $o! co$$onl* )ed !&er$oe! $a!erial
for $a.in' co$%oi!e (i!& !&eir c&arac!eri!ic fea!)re &o(n a'ain! !&e$+ I! $a* be
no!ed !&a! eac& of !&ee %ol*$er re%reen! a fa$il* of %la!ic and everal 'rade of
rein are available in eac& of !&ee %ol*$er fa$ilie+
Since !&e %ol*$er are ini!iall* available in liC)id or %o(der for$- i! i ea* !o
in!rod)ce !&e iner! li.e filler and reinforce$en! fibre+ So$e !&er$oe! reC)ire &ea!
for c)rin'- b)! $an* o!&er )nder'o cro lin.in' in !&e %reence of a ca!al*!9ini!ia!or
even a! a$bien! !e$%era!)re+ T&e c)rin' %roce i 'enerall* e,o!&er$ic and !&e &ea!
evolved $a* accelera!e !&e c)rin' %roce+ A$on' !&e !&er$oe! PMC- i! i !&e
%ol*e!er rein baed co$%oi!e !&a! &are al$o! 61D of !&e $ar.e! $ainl* beca)e of
!&eir vera!ili!* in c)rin'- lo( co! and be!!er rei!ance !o $an* c&e$ical and (a!er+
E%o,* baed co$%oi!e find a%%lica!ion in &i'&-!ec& area li.e aero%ace !r)c!)re-
&i'& vol!a'e in)la!ion- co$$)nica!ion eC)i%$en!- %rin!ed circ)i! board and
co$%oi!e !oolin'+
Fibre reinforced %&enolic are )ed for &ea!-&ield- roc.e! no??le- c&e$ical
%lan!- elec!rical in)la!ion %rod)c! and %rin!ed circ)i! board+ Pol*i$ide and
ilicone are )ed a $a!rice (&en !&e con!in)o) o%era!ion !e$%era!)re i cloe !o
711AC+ T&er$oe! are 'enerall* bri!!le and &ence !&e* are no! )ed !&e$elve (i!&o)!
filler or reinforce$en! e,ce%! for $all a%%lica!ion li.e $a.in' b)!!on- ca!in' idol
or !o* e!c+
Al!&o)'& %ol*$er are 'enerall* infla$$able- i! i %oible !o &ave %ecial fire
re!ardan! 'rade %ol*$er+ Fire re!ardance can alo be ac&ieved b* addin' fire re!ardan!
filler li.e Al)$ini)$ !ri&*dra!e and an!i$on* !rio,ide+
T&er$oe! PMC are bein' $ade and )ed for !&e la! five decade and !&e* find
a%%lica!ion in a (ide ran'e of %rod)c! ran'in' fro$ aircraf!- a!elli!e- roc.e!-
a)!o$obile !o $ac&ine ele$en!- re&abili!a!ion aid and con)$er 'ood+
'"SIN %3*'*%T"'ISTI%S
Pol*e!er Una!)ra!ed %ol*e!er"Or!&o%&!&alic- io%&!&alic- bi%&enol e!c+# diolved in
!*rene C)red )in' ca!al*! and accelera!or or ca!al*! and &ea!+ 8ood all
ro)nd %ro%er!ie+ Lo( co!+ Can be )ed a! !e$%era!)re belo( 01 !o 61AC+
Al$o! 61D of !&e PMC $ade !oda* )e %ol*e!er+
:in*le!er Acr*lic or $e!&acr*lic acid reac!ed (i!& di'l*cid*l ei!&er of bi%&enol A
"D8E>A# or o!&er e%o,ie+ Provide )na!)ra!ed $ono$er !er$ina!ed bae
rein+ I! i diolved in !*rene+ C)re li.e %ol*e!er+ S)%erior %ro%er!ie+
E%o,ie Pol*$er (i!& e%o,ide rin' in !&e c&ain+ 8enerall* available in liC)id for$+
Hardener i added for cro-lin.in'+ Reac!ion !a.e %lace )nder &ea! or )nder a
cold e! &ardener9%ro$o!er+ E,cellen! $ec&anical and ad&eive %ro%er!ie+
8ood c&e$ical rei!ance+ E,cellen! elec!rical %ro%er!ie+ Ued in &i'&
%erfor$ance a%%lica!ion+ Rein i co!l*+ Can be )ed )%!o 1/1 !o 151AC+
Cro lin.ed
Acr*lic
Me!&*l $e!&acr*la!e $ono$er can be cro-lin.ed d)rin' %ol*$eria!ion b*
)in' a cro lin.in' addi!ive li.e ace!*l $e!&acr*la!e+ T&e cro lin.ed
acr*lic re!ain !ran%arenc*+
P&enolic Cro lin.ed )in' &e,a$ine )nder &ea! and %re)re+ Lo(-%re)re 'rade
liC)id %&enolic are alo available+ 8ood elec!rical %ro%er!ie and fire
rei!ance+ Lo( co! Can be )ed )%!o /11AC+
Pol*)re!&ane T&er$oe! %ol*)re!&ane are $ade b* !&e reac!ion of an ioc*ana!e (i!&
%ol*ol+ E,cellen! abraion rei!ance+ 8ood !enile !ren'!& and elon'a!ion+
Ued $o!l* for ri'id foa$+
F)ran F)rane rein are $ade fro$ f)ral for$alde&*de+ Li.e %&enolic- !&e* &ave
e,cellen! rei!ance !o al.alie and &ave 'ood elec!rical %ro%er!ie+ Ued for
c&e$ical eC)i%$en!+
Pol*i$ide Pol*i$ide are &i'& !e$%era!)re rein *!e$ )ed for bo!& elec!rical
in)la!ion fil$ and co$%oi!e+ T&e a%%lica!ion of co$%oi!e are in
a)!o$obile en'ine %ar! and o!&er &ea!ed ele$en!+ Ma,i$)$ !e$%era!)re
level in ervice i /31AC+
Ta#le 1.+ Thermo sets commonly used as matrices and their characteristics
#. Thermoplastic !M%$ T&er$o%la!ic are linear c&ain %ol*$er- (&ic& do no!
)nder'o cro-lin.in' a in !&e cae of !&er$oe!+ A! roo$ !e$%era!)re- !&e* e,i! in
olid for$+ T&e* can be re%ea!edl* &ea!ed- $el!ed in!o liC)id and re&a%ed al!&o)'&
o$e de'ree of de'rada!ion $a* !a.e %lace d)rin' !&i %roce+ Table 7 li! !&e
!&er$o%la!ic in!o !&ree 'ro)%+ T&e &i'& %erfor$ance %la!ic 'iven in !&i li! e,ce%!
!&e fl)oro%ol*$er are of recen! develo%$en! and !&e* &o( $)c& &i'&er %ro%er!ie
and !&er$al rei!ance !&an en'ineerin' %la!ic+
Since !&er$o%la!ic are 'enerall* no! bri!!le and are !o)'&er !&an !&er$oe!-
!&e* can be )ed (i!&o)! reinforce$en!+ So$e of !&e co$$odi!* %la!ic and
en'ineerin' %la!ic are bein' )ed (i!&o)! an* reinforce$en! in b)ildin'- f)rni!)re-
%i%e and in!r)$en! cover+ T&eir cree% rei!ance i %oor and !&eir !ren'!& and
!iffne are i$ilar !o !&oe of !&er$oe! onl*+ Addi!ion of reinforce$en! fibre can
en&ance !&ee %ro%er!ie a in !&er$oe!+ Ho(ever- ince !&e* e,i! a olid in nor$al
!e$%era!)re and ince !&e vicoi!* of !&e $el! i 'enerall* &i'&- in!rod)c!ion of lon'
fire (ere diffic)l!+ Hence- lon' fibre-reinforced !&er$o%la!ic (ere no! develo%ed li.e
!&er$oe! co$%oi!e+ B&en %o(der filler or $illed fibre are added !o !&e
!&er$o%la!ic- !&e $e!&od of $an)fac!)re of %rod)c! are i$ilar !o !&oe of )nfilled
%la!ic+ T&ee $e!&od incl)de in<ec!ion- e,!r)ion or ro!a!ional $o)ldin'+ B&en
$illed fibre are added- !&e i$%rove$en! of $ec&anical %ro%er!ie i no! a )b!an!ial
a in lon' fibre co$%oi!e+ Recen!l*- $an)fac!)rin' $e!&od &ave been evolved for
$a.in' lon' fibre reinforced !&er$o%la!ic and a a re)l!- lon' fibre !&er$o%la!ic
co$%oi!e are alo 'ainin' i$%or!ance++ T&e $an)fac!)rin' $e!&od for lon' fibre
reinforced !&er$o%la!ic co$%oi!e can be of fo)r !*%e+
"i# In<ec!ion or E,!r)ion )in' lon' - &or! fibre filled %elle! of !&er$o%la!ic+
"ii# Reinforced reac!ion in<ec!ion $o)ldin' %roce in (&ic& !&e reinforce$en! are
%ac.ed in !&e $o)ld cavi!*- !&e $ono$er i in<ec!ed in!o !&e $o)ld and
%ol*$eria!ion i allo(ed !o !a.e %lace in !&e $o)ld+
"iii# T&er$o%la!ic %re%re' are %re%ared b* coa!in' !&e %la!ic on !&e !a%e- clo!& or
fabric of reinforce$en!+ T&ee %re%re' are )beC)en!l* &a%ed b*
!&er$ofor$in'+
"iv# T&er$o%la!ic in %o(der- fil$ or fibre for$ are added !o !&e reinforce$en! and
!&e $i,!)re i co$%ac!ed and &ea!ed b* (&ic& %roce !&e %ol*$er are in!ered
or $el!ed and f)ed+
"v# P)l!r)ion $e!&od for $a.in' con!in)o) fibre reinforced !&er$o%la!ic %rofile
b* %)llin' !&ee !o'e!&er !&ro)'& a %)l!r)ion die+
a+ %ommodity or .o4 !"'&-'M*N%"
Acr*loni!rile b)!adine !*rene "A>S#
Acr*lic
Cell)loic
Pol*e!&*lene
Pol* acr*lo ni!rile "PAN#
Pol* Pro%*lene
Pol*!*rene"PS#
Pol*vin*l C&loride"P:C#
Pol*%ro%*lene"PP#
S!*rene-Acr*loni!rile "SAN#
Pol*)re!&ane "T&er$o%la!ic#
b+ Medium !erformance or "ngg. !lastics
Pol* Ace!al
N*lon
Pol*carbona!e"PC#
Pol*%&en*lene O,ide"PPO#
Pol*e!er "T&er$o%la!ic#"PET- P>T#
C+ 3igh !erformance !lastics
Fl)oro Pol*$er
Pol*a$ide-i$ide "PAI#
Pol* Ar*l e!&er
Pol*e!&er e!&er @e!one "PEE@#
Pol*e!&er S)lfone "PES#
Pol*i$ide "T&er$o%la!ic "PI#
Pol*%&en*lene)lfide "PPS#
Pol*%&ene*lene C)ino,aline "PPO#
Pol*)lfone
Table 1.3 Types of Thermoplastics
c. "lastomeric !M%$ Na!)ral r)bber and o!&er *n!&e!ic ela!o$er are %ol*$er b)!
)nli.e %la!ic- !&e* )nder'o ver* lar'e defor$a!ion )nder a%%lied load+ A a re)l!-
!&e* !&e$elve canno! be )ed for an* load bearin' a%%lica!ion in (&ic& defor$a!ion
&ave !o be cloel* con!rolled+ :)lcani?a!ion of r)bber i reor!ed !o for red)cin' !&e
defor$a!ion- b)! !&i alone i no! )fficien! !o i$%rove !&e !ren'!&+ Hence- v)lcani?ed
r)bber and ela!o$er are f)r!&er !ren'!&ened and !iffened )in' reinforce$en! fibre+
Ela!o$er &ave e,cellen! vibra!ion da$%in' %ro%er!ie and a )c& !&e* are )ed a
vibra!ion da$%er in $ac&ine $o)n!in'+ Ela!o$eric PMC are )ed for !*re- :-bel!-
conve*or bel!- car b)$%er e!c+
1.5 'einforcement &i#ers
T&e iner! added !o !&e $a!ri, $a* be a reinforce$en! li.e fibre or $a* be a
filler li.e fla.e or %ar!icle+ Reinforce$en! fibre are fine dia$e!er one-di$enional
ele$en! (i!& a fairl* lar'e a%ec! ra!io "len'!& !o dia$e!er ra!io#+ Fibre can be &or!
dicon!in)o) or can be lon' con!in)o)+B&en fibre are )ed for reinforcin' !&e
%ol*$er- !&e re)l!in' co$%oi!e are called Fibre Reinforced Pol*$er "FRP#+ In !&i
!er$inolo'* !&e fibre can be an* fibre and !&e %ol*$er can be an* %ol*$er+ B&en
%ecific fibre li.e 'la fibre or carbon fibre i )ed- !&e co$%oi!e are called 8la
Fibre Reinforced Pla!ic "8RP# and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Pla!ic "CFRP#+ B&en
bo!& fibre $a!erial and %la!ic $a!erial are %ecified- !&e co$%oi!e are called b* !&e
!er$ 8la-%ol*e!er- Carbon-e%o,*- @evlar-e%o,* e!c+ T&e !er$ FRTP i )ed !o
dei'na!e fibre reinforced !&er$o%la!ic+
8la fibre (&ic& i $ade b* dra(in' 'la in !o fine fila$en! for$ i !&e
$a<or reinforce$en! $a!erial )ed for $a.in' co$%oi!e beca)e of !&e all ro)nd
%ro%er!ie and lo( co!+ Carbon fibre $ade b* ali'nin' !&e 'ra%&i!e cr*!al in !&e fibre
direc!ion are !&e ne,! (idel* )ed reinforce$en!+ Carbon fibre i available in !(o for$-
&i'& !ren'!& "HS# and &i'& $od)l) "HM#+ Carbon fibre are li'&!er !&an !&e 'la fibre
and !&e $od)l) of ela!ici!* i !(o !o five !i$e &a! of !eel+ Carbon fibre co$%oi!e
alo &o( e,cellen! fa!i')e %ro%er!ie+
Ano!&er i$%or!an! fa$il* of reinforce$en! i !&e ara$id fibre $ar.e!ed b* !&e
!rade na$e @evlar T(aron and Tec&nora+ T&e* are baicall* %ol*$eric fibre $ade b*
%innin' !&e %ol*$er in!o fibre for$ (i!& !&e %ol*$er c&ain a,iall* orien!ed+ T&e* are
li'&!er !&an carbon fibre+ T&e $od)l) of ela!ici!* i abo)! 1+5 !i$e !&a! of 'la fibre+
T&e !ren'!& of 'la- carbon and ara$id fibre are fairl* of a$e order of $a'ni!)de+
T&ere are everal o!&er fibre available in !&e $ar.e! b)! !&e* do no! find $)c&
a%%lica!ion in %ol*$er co$%oi!e ei!&er d)e !o !&e &i'& co! or d)e !o !&e non-
co$%a!ibili!* (i!& !&e $a!ri, for $an)fac!)re or for %erfor$ance+ Table 2 'ive !&e
!*%ical %ro%er!ie and %ecific %ro%er!ie of reinforce$en! fibre+
1.6 *pplications
Co$%oi!e $a!erial &ave fo)nd a%%lica!ion in al$o! all branc&e of en'ineerin'+ A
ro)'& e!i$a!e indica!e !&a! $ore !&an 31111 %rod)c! are bein' $ade )in' !&ee
$a!erial+ For convenience- !&e )a'e of co$%oi!e can be divided in!o 6 a%%lica!ion
area+ T&i diviion i baed on !&e dei'n and f)nc!ional reC)ire$en!+
1+ Aero%ace a%%lica!ion
/+ Land !ran%or! a%%lica!ion
7+ Marine veel and !r)c!)re
2+ >)ildin' and con!r)c!ion ind)!r*
5+ C&e$ical %lan! and corroion rei!an! %rod)c!
3+ Elec!rical elec!ronic and co$$)nica!ion a%%lica!ion
4+ Mac&ine ele$en! and ener'* a%%lica!ion
0+ >io$edical- re&abili!a!ion and &o%i!al a%%liance
6+ Con)$er d)rable %rod)c! and %or! 'ood
1.6.1 *pplication of !olymer Matri0 %omposites
T&e $a<or ca!e'orie of PMC )ed !oda* are !&e fibre reinforced %la!ic "FRP# (&ic&
incl)de bo!& !&er$oe! and !&er$o%la!ic co$%oi!e + T&e o!&er !*%e of PMC in )e
are !&e %ol*$er concre!e and fla.e filled %la!ic+ Pol*$er concre!e i a %ar!ic)la!e
co$%oi!e $a!erial i$ilar !o Por!land ce$en! concre!e (&ere !&e filler are bonded
!o'e!&er b* a %ol*$eric $a!erial+ I! i )ed for $a.in' $ac&ine fo)nda!ion- $ac&ine
bed- r)n(a* con!r)c!ion- %ill(a* re%air- decora!ive floor and c&e$ical rei!an!
fac!or* floor+
FRP i e$er'in' a an i$%or!an! cla of en'ineerin' $a!erial for a varie!* of
o%&i!ica!ed a%%lica!ion+ So$e of !&e a%%lica!ion of !&e FRP for vario) field of
en'ineerin' !&a! are of i$$edia!e benefi! !o !&e co)n!r* are 'iven belo(=
a+*erospace *pplications$
Reinforced %la!ic &ave a %ro$inen! role !o %la* in &a%in' !&e aero%ace !r)c!)re
d)rin' !&e co$in' *ear %ar!ic)larl* d)e !o !&eir &i'& %ecific %ro%er!ie "%ro%er!* !o
%ecific 'ravi!* ra!io#+ T&e Li'&! Co$%ac! Aircraf! "LCA#- !&e advanced li'&! &elico%!er
"ALH# !&e %iole!le aircraf!- !&e $iile and roc.e!- and !&e %ace a!elli!e develo%ed
b* !&e vario) a'encie in India )e reinforced %la!ic in a )b!an!ial (a*+ Carbon fibre
and @evlar are )ed a reinforce$en! and e%o,ie for$ !&e $a!rice+
b+.and Transport$
8rea! %o!en!ial e,i! for )in' FRP for land !ran%or! *!e$ li.e car- !r)c.
and b) bodie- rail(a* coac& co$%onen!- con!ainer and !(o and !&ree (&eeler+
Al!&o)'& %ro're &a been $ade in !&i ec!or- !&e f)ll %o!en!ial of !&ee $a!erial &a
no! been realied+
c+Marine *pplications$
India &a a ver* lon' coa! line and $ore !&an 45111 fi&in' craf! of differen!
i?e are reC)ired+ FRP &a been acce%!ed a !&e $o! efficien! $a!erial *!e$ for
$arine veel beca)e of !&eir e,cellen! corroion rei!ance- li'&! (ei'&! and eae of
$o)ldin'+ Coniderable co%e e,i! for )in' FRP in !&i vi!al ec!or !&a! 'ive
e$%lo*$en! !o $illion+
d. ,uildings$
>eca)e of !&e rela!ivel* &i'&er co! of FRP co$%ared !o !&e conven!ional
b)ildin' $a!erial- !&ee co$%oi!e &ave no! been able !o en!er !&e b)ildin' con!r)c!ion
in an* )b!an!ial (a*+ Ho(ever- FRP find a%%lica!ion a a !i$ber re%lace$en! in
$a.in' door- (indo( and %ar!i!ion and for !ranl)cen! roofin' &ee!- %refabrica!ed
$od)lar &o)e and b)ildin'+ Abo)! /2D of FRP %rod)ced in !&e in!erna!ional $ar.e!
'oe !o !&e b)ildin' ind)!r*+
e. %hemical !lants and %orrosion 'esistance !roducts$
I! i !&e !&ird lar'e! o)rce of con)$%!ion of FRP no( in !&e co)n!r* d)e !o
e,cellen! corroion rei!ance and $ec&anical %ro%er!ie offered b* !&e$+ FRP are bein'
)ed for $a.in' acid !ora'e !an.- %re)re veel- c&lorine dr*in' !o(er- 'a !ac.-
%i%e- (a!er !an.- coolin' !o(er e!c+ T&e %rod)c! are c)!o$ b)il! and &ence
%eciali?ed dei'n .ill are necear* for dei'nin' !&e %rod)c!+ Hand la*-)% and
fila$en! (indin' are !&e co$$onl* )ed $an)fac!)rin' $e!&od- b)! vac))$ ai!ed
$o)ldin' and vac))$ ba' $o)ldin' i alo bein' )ed b* o$e ind)!rie+
f. Mechanical "ngineering and "nergy *pplications$
T&e $an)fac!)re of $ac&ine ele$en! )in' co$%oi!e i a rela!ivel* recen!
develo%$en!+ A)!o$obile %ar! li.e (&eel dr)$- leaf %rin'- drive &af! and &oc.
aborber are bein' $ade of !&er$oe! $a!ri, co$%oi!e+ Hi'& !e$%era!)re rei!an!
%ol*$er li.e %ol*i$ide reinforced (i!& 'la and carbon fibre are alo )ed for $a.in'
en'ine of racin' car and i! $a* one da* be e,!ended !o !&e %aen'er car en'ine+
FRTP can alo be )ed for $a.in' 'ear- bearin' e!c+
Bind $ill blade )ed in (ind elec!ric 'enera!or- bio'a %lan!- olar collec!or-
olar coo.er and o!&er ener'* device are 'enerall* $ade of FRP bo!& beca)e of !&eir
corroion rei!ance and beca)e of !&e eae (i!& (&ic& !&e* can be $o)lded in!o
co$%le, &a%e+
g. "lectrical/"lectronic and %ommunication *pplications$
T&e e,cellen! elec!rical in)la!ion %ro%er!* !o'e!&er (i!& !&e &i'& $ec&anical %ro%er!ie-
li'&! (ei'&! and corroion rei!ance $a.e FRP and FRTP a ideal $a!erial for &i'&
vol!a'e in)la!ion %rod)c! )ed in !ranfor$er- (i!c& 'ear- lo! (ed'e- cro ar$
and di. in)la!or+ FRP and FRTP alo find a%%lica!ion in EMI &ieldin'- an!enna-
rado$e- radio !eleco%e e!c+ For )nder (a!er aco)!ic co$$)nica!ion *!e$- FRP
are )ed a !ran$i!!er- aborber and reflec!or of aco)!ic i'nal+
h. ,io7Medical *pplications$
T&e $a!erial )ed in bio-$edical a%%lica!ion can be divided in!o !&oe )ed for bod*
i$%lan! and !&oe )ed for $a.in' e,!ernal bod* )%%or! *!e$+ Acr*lic baed
co$%oi!e are )ed a den!al cavi!* fillin' $a!erial+ Carbon fibre reinforced
co$%oi!e are alo )ed for bone re%lace$en!+ >* far !&e $a,i$)$ )a'e of FRP and
FRTP i for $a.in' bod* )%%or! *!e$+ Abo)! even $illion diabled %eo%le in India
need o$e .ind of bod* )%%or! li.e %ro!&e!ic aid for a$%)!ee and or!&o!ic aid for
%olio %a!ien!- cerebral %al* and %ara%le'ic+ Carbon fibre reinforced %la!ic are )ed
for above and belo( .nee %ro!&ei+ 8la and carbon fibre reinforced %la!ic can be
)ed for calli%er- (&eel c&air- !ric*cle and a %ecial aid reC)ired for %a!ien!+
In )$$ar*- co$%oi!e &o( bri'&! f)!)re a a cla of &i'& %erfor$ance
$a!erial (i!& (ide ran'in' ca%abili!ie+ I! i %redic!ed b* a )rve* cond)c!ed b*
D)%on!- USA !&a! !&e *ear /171- abo)! 51D co! of all en'ineerin' $a!erial )ed (ill be
!&a! of o$e .ind of co$%oi!e+ I! i a c&allen'in' !ec&nolo'* for !&e co$in'
'enera!ion+