composites

introduction
Many modern tech. & application need unusual combination
of material properties aerospace, submarine, train,
bioengineering etc.

increasingly searching for structural materials that have low

densities, strong stiff, light, abrasion-impact-resistant, and
are not easily corroded.
Frequently, strong materials are relatively dense heavy;
also, increasing the strength or stiffness generally results in
a decrease in impact strength rigid
omposite! multiphase material that e"hibit better
properties of the constituents and are insoluble in each
other
omposite materials may be selected to give unusual
combinations of stiffness, strength, weight,
high-temperature performance, corrosion resistance,
hardness, or conductivity.
omposites highlight how different materials can wor# in
synergy
$atural composite! wood, bone
%ood fibers &strong & fle"ible cellulose' surrounded & held
by lignen &stiffer material'

bone is collagen &a composite of the strong yet soft protein'

and mineral apatite &the hard, brittle'

(composite) artificially made

*equirements! the constituent phase must be chemically
dissimilar & separated by a distinct interface

Most composites have been created to improve

combinations of mechanical characteristics such as
stiffness, toughness, and ambient and high
temperature strength.

Many composite + phases!

,. matri"! continuous & surrounds other phase
+. dispersed phase-reinforcement
.he interface is the area of contact between the
reinforcement and the matri" materials.

/roperties of composite are a function of the

properties of the prop. of constituent phase, the
amounts, geometry of dispersed phase

0ispersed phase geometry) in this conte"t means

the shape of the particles and the particle si1e,
distribution, and orientation)
2eneral characteristics

Matri" serves!
,. 3inding reinforcement phases in place
+. 4haping & deforming to distribute the stress
among the constituent reinforcement materials
under an applied force
.
4uperior to all other mechanical prop. of
individual materials &specific strength, stiffness,
high . strength etc'
.
omposites cannot be made from constituents
with divergent linear e"pansion characteristics.
.
5ne of the prime considerations in the selection
and fabrication of composites is that the
constituents should be chemically inert
non-reactive
.
.he base6matri" metal6alloy &metallic
composites'; polymer, , ceramic &non metallic'

omposites with combine matri"

multi-matri"6layer composite

Filler6dispersed comp. are uniformly distributed

in matri"; posses high strength, hardness, elastic
modulus higher than the matri"7s

omposite contains 8+ filler

comple"-reinforced composite
Matri" materials

9lthough the high strength of composites is

largely due to the fibre reinforcement, the
importance of matri" material cannot be
underestimated as it provides support for the
fibres and assists the fibres in carrying the
loads.

:t also provides stability to the composite

material.

:t is essential that adhesive bonding forces

between ;ber and matri" be high to minimi1e
;ber pull-out

.he ultimate strength of the composite depends

to a large degree on the magnitude of this bond;
adequate bonding is essential to ma"imi1e the
stress transmittance from the wea# matri" to the
strong ;bers.
Functions of a Matrix
:n a composite material, the matri" material serves the
following functions!
< =olds the fibres together and act as medium by which
e"ternally applied stress is transmited & distributed
the fiber
< protect individual fiber from surface damage as a result
of mechanical abrasion6chemical reaction
< 0istributes the loads evenly between fibres so that all
fibres are sub>ected to the same amount of strain.
< ?nhances transverse properties of a laminate.
< :mproves impact and fracture resistance of a
component.
< =elps to avoid propagation of crac# growth through the
fibres by providing alternate failure path along the
interface between the fibres and the matri".
Properties of a Matrix
.he needs or desired properties of the matri" which are
important for a composite structure are as follows!
< distribute stress to the fiber

*educed moisture absorption.

< @ow shrin#age.
< @ow coefficient of thermal e"pansion.
< should not crac#
< 4trength at elevated temperature &depending on
application'.
< @ow temperature capability &depending on
application'.
< ?"cellent chemical resistance &depending on
application'.
< 4hould be easily processable into the final composite
shape.
< 0imensional stability &maintains its shape'.
Matri" classification

.he matri" phase may be a metal, polymer, or

ceramic.
/olymer matri" materials

/olymers ma#e ideal materials as they can be

processed easily, possess lightweight, and desirable
mechanical properties.

.wo main #inds of polymers are thermosets and

thermoplastics.

.hermosets undergo irreversible cross-lin#ing reaction

& decompose instead of melting on heat application.
?.g! ?po"y , phenolic , polyester , polyimide,
polyurethane , silicone resins.

.hermoplastics change in viscosity, melt & tend to

loose their strength at an elevated temperature

9nother advantage of thermoplasatics is that the

process of softening at elevated temperatures can
reversed to regain its properties during cooling
repeated

?.g! polypropylene, nylon &polyamide'

/olymer-matri"
composites&/M'

/olymer matri" composites &/Ms' are comprised of

a variety of short or continuous fibers bound together
by an organic polymer matri".

onsist of high-M%-reinforced plastic &resin' polymer

as the matri" with fibers as reinforcement medium
2reatest diversity & quantity
@ight, easy to fabricated & cost

lassify according to reinforcement type! glass,

carbon, aramid
Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP'

composite &fiberglass'

continuous6discontinuous within polymer matri"

glass is popular as fiber reinforcement material!

, easily drawn into high-strength fibers from the
molten state
+ readily available, may fabricated economically
many technique
A fiber is strong, embedded in plastic matri" high
specific strength composite
B %hen coupled with plastics possess chemical
inertness that renders composite useful in variety
corrosive environment
4urface flaw affect composite stretching; can be introduced by
rubbing6friction with other hard materials or e"posed to normal
environment for long time
@imitation of 2F*/!
, limited service C +DD , higher . polymer deteriorate
4ervice temperatures may be e"tended to appro"imately
ADDE by using high-purity fused silica for the ;bers and
high-temperature polymers such as the polyimide resins
+ not very stiff & not display rigidity for some application
9pplication! automotive & marine bodies, plastic pipe, storage
container
.he transportation industries are utili1ing increasing amounts
of glass ;ber-reinforced plastics in an effort to decrease
vehicle weight and boost fuel ef;ciencies
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer
(CFRP) composite
*easons for using carbon fibers
, have highest specific strength
+ retain high tensile strength in elevated .
A are not affected by moisture & various solvents in .r
B e"hibit diversity of physical & mechanical characteristic
allowing various properties & application
F relatively ine"pensive
9pplications! in sports and recreational equipment
&;shing rods, golf clubs', ;lament-wound roc#et motor
cases, pressure vessels, and aircraft structural
componentsGboth military and commercial, ;"ed wing
and helicopters &e.g., as wing, body, stabili1er, and
rudder components'.
ramid Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Composites

hemically, this group of materials is #nown as

poly&paraphenylene terephthalamide'
Mechanically, these ;bers have longitudinal tensile
strengths and tensile moduli but are relatively wea# in
compression.
:n addition, this material is #nown for its toughness, impact
resistance, and resistance to creep and fatigue failure.

?ven though the aramids are thermoplastics, they are,

nevertheless, resistant to combustion and stable to
relatively high temperatures &H+DD and +DD '
hemically, they are susceptible to degradation by strong
acids and bases, but they are relatively inert in other
solvents and chemicals.
common matri" materials are the epo"ies and polyesters
9pplications!min ballistic products &bullet-proof vests and
armor', sporting goods, tires, ropes, missile cases, pressure
vessels, and as a replacement for asbestos in automotive
bra#e and clutch linings, and gas#ets.
Metal matri" material

9dvantages! high strength, fracture toughness and

stiffness, withstand elevated temperature in corrosive
environment than polymer composites.

Most metals and alloys could be used as matrices and

they require reinforcement materials which need to be
stable over a range of temperature and non-reactive
too.
Most metals and alloys ma#e good matrices.

.he melting point, physical and mechanical properties

of the composite at various temperatures determine
the service temperature of composites. Most metals,
ceramics and compounds can be used with matrices
of low melting point alloys.

.itanium, 9luminium and magnesium useful for

aircraft applications.
eramic matri" materials

=igh melting points, good corrosion resistance,

stability at elevated temperatures and high
compressive strength, render eramic-based matri"
materials a favourite for applications requiring a
structural material that doesn7t give way at
temperatures above ,FDDI.
$aturally, ceramic matrices are the obvious choice for
high temperature applications.
arbon matrices

arbon and graphite have a special place in composite

materials options, both being highly superior, high
temperature materials with strengths and rigidity that
are not affected by temperature up to +ADDI.

arbon-carbon composites are not be applied in

elevated temperatures, as many composites have
proved to be far superior at these temperatures.
=owever, their capacity to retain their properties at
room temperature as well as at temperature in the
range of +BDDI and their dimensional stability ma#e
them the oblivious choice in applications related to
aeronautics, military, industry and space.
2lass matrices

: n comparison to ceramics and even considered on

their own merit, glass matrices are found to be more
reinforcement-friendly.

.he various manufacturing methods of polymers can

be used for glass matrices.

2lass matri" composite with high strength and

modulus can be obtained and they can be maintained
upto temperature of the order of JFDI.

omposites with glass matrices are considered

superior in dimensions to polymer or metal system,
due to the low thermal e"pansion behaviour.
=ybrid composite
5btained by using two or more different #inds of ;bers in a
single matri";
hybrids have a better all around combination of properties
than composites containing only a single ;ber.

the most common system, both and glass ;bers are

incorporated into a polymeric resin. .he ;bers are strong
and relatively stiff and provide a low-density reinforcement;
however, they are e"pensive. 2lass ;bers are ine"pensive
and lac# the stiffness of carbon.
.he glassHcarbon hybrid is stronger and tougher, has a
higher impact resistance, and may be produced at a lower
cost

applications! lightweight land, water, and air transport

structural components, sporting goods, and lightweight
orthopedic components.
*einforcements in
composites

*einforcing constituents in composites provide the

strength heat resistance or conduction, resistance to
corrosion and provide rigidity.

*einforcement can be made to perform all or one of

these functions as per the requirements.

9 reinforcement that embellishes the matri" strength

must be stronger and stiffer than the matri" and
capable of changing failure mechanism to the
advantage of the composite the ductility should be
minimum or even nil the composite must behave as
brittle as possible.
reinforcement classification
,' /article-reinforced composites

.he dispersed phase is equia"ed &particle dimensions

are appro"imately the same in all directions'

Filler improve properties, replace with cheaper

material

/articulate phase is harder &stiffer than matri"

.he particles tend to restrain movement of the matri"

.he matri" transfers the stress to particles which bear

of load
:mprovement depends on bonding at matri"-particle
interface

/articles may variety in geometries

?ffective reinforcement! small & distributed

throughout the matri"

@arge-particle and dispersion-strengthened

composites are the two subclassi;cations of
particle-reinforced composites.
oncrete
&large particle composites'

matri" & dispersed material are ceramic

cement &matri"' & sand & gravel &particles'

:n a broad sense, concrete implies a composite material consisting
of an aggregate of particles that are bound together in a solid body
by some type of binding medium, that is, a cement
.he two most familiar concretes are those made with portland and
asphaltic cements, where the aggregate is gravel and sand
correct proportion to achieve opt. strength
9sphaltic concrete is widely used primarily as a paving material,
whereas portland cement concrete is employed e"tensively as a
structural building material.
0ense pac#ing & good interfacial contact + aggregate si1es

4and fill void space between gravel

4ufficient cement to coat all the aggregates; too little water

incomplete, too much e"cessive porosity
*einforced concrete
:ncrease the strength of concrete steel rods wire bars;
embedded into fresh & uncured concrete
.hus, the reinforcement renders the hardened structure
capable of supporting greater tensile, compressive, and
shear stresses. ?ven if crac#s develop in the concrete,
considerable reinforcement is maintained.

4teel coef. .hermal e"pansion similar to concrete, is not

rapidly corroded in cement environment, strong adhesive
bond with concrete
s teel is not rapidly corroded in the cement environment,
and a relatively strong adhesive bond is formed between it
and the cured concrete. .his adhesion may be enhanced by
the incorporation of contours into the surface of the steel
member
+' Fiber-reinforced composites

.he mechanical characteristics of a ;ber-reinforced

composite depend not only on the properties of the ;ber,
but also on the degree to which an applied load is
transmitted to the ;bers by the matri" phase
4mall diameter fiber is better with high tensile strength
.he matri" transmit the load to fibres which absorb the
stress
9n important characteristic of most materials, especially
brittle ones, is that a small diameter ;ber is much stronger
than the bul# material.
the probability of the presence of a critical surface Kaw that
can lead to fracture diminishes with decreasing specimen
volumev advantage in the ;ber-reinforced composites.

?ffective strength! f &:88:c &continue',orientation of fiber,

fiber concentration and distribution'
;brous materials are generally either polymers or ceramics
&e.g., the polymer aramids, glass, carbon, boron, aluminum
o"ide, and silicon carbide'

%ith respect to orientation, two possible orientation of fiber!

,. parallel alignment of the longitudinal a"is of the fibres in the
single direction
+. totally random allighment
ontinuous ;bers are normally aligned &a), whereas
discontinuous bers may be aligned (b), randomly
oriented &c), or partially oriented.
Better overall composite properties are reali1ed when the
;ber distribution is uniform.
A'4tructural composites
normally composed of both homogeneous
and composite materials,
depend not only on the properties of the
constituent materials but also on the
geometrical design of the various
structural
@aminar & sandwich panel
@9M:$9* 5M/54:.?4
- composed of +0 sheets6panels
- layers are stac#ed & cemented together ;
designed for high-strength
- cotton,paper, woven glass fiber in plastic
matri"
- application! plywood, formica
Click to edit Master text styles
Second level
Third level
Fourth level
Fifth level
49$0%:= 4.*L.L*?4
considered to be a class of structural composites, are
designed to be light-weight beams or panels having
relatively high stiffnesses and strengths.
two outer sheets, or faces, that are separated by and
adhesively bonded to a thic#er core

5uter sheet thic# enough, stiff & strong material; impart

high stiffness and strength to the structure, and must be
thic# enough to withstand tensile and compressive
stresses that result from loading! aluminium alloy,
titanium, steel, plywood
ore lightweight, lower elasticity, high stiffnesses &
strength

ore type! polymeric foams, wood, honeycombs

.ensile & compressive stresses of core C the faces
ore functions!
, provide continuous support for the faces
+ transverse stress strength
A provide high stiffness thic#

9pplication! roofs, floors, wall of building,aerospace

Click to edit Master text styles
Second level
Third level
Fourth level
Fifth level