Composite Exercise-1

Summary

Submitted by: Hazmah Mukhtar

Student # 238998

Reactor (80 C, H2SO4) Outotec OKTOP

When choosing materials for a reactor construction, it is not essential to use a very light weight material
for a reactor. But mechanical and chemical properties of both of fiber and matrix materials are very
important. As this reactor will be used for H2SO4 (at 80 C) which is a very strong acid and is a powerful
dehydrating agent and most thermoset materials get effected by strong acids resultantly materials with
good mechanical and chemical properties are required.
Material Properties Required for a Reactor

High Mechanical strength

Suitable Chemical resistance
Appropriate thermal Insulation Properties
Corrosion resistance
Water/Moisture resistance

As weight doesnt matter for this product so glass fiber (C-Glass) having good mechanical and chemical
properties is relatively much suitable than other materials for this application. And vinyl ester having
epoxy resin backbone which gives it good water and chemical resistance and toughness is much suitable
as a matrix for such application. Vinyl ester also do have higher elongation at break than for polyesters
and does provide good adhesion properties with glass fiber. For construction of the reactor sandwich
structure will provide relatively higher mechanical properties.
Advantages of Glass Fiber:
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High mechanical properties

Good thermal Insulation Properties
High tensile strength

Advantages of Vinyl ester:

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Tough
High Chemical resistance
High water resistance
Good adhesion properties
Heat resistivity

Structure:
For construction of the reactor sandwich structure will provide relatively higher mechanical properties.
Not Suitable Combination for Reactor (80 C, H2SO4) Outotec OKTOP
Polypropylene (PP) with good chemical resistance and Aramid could be other choice but it is not
recommended because PP gets attacked by strong and oxidative acids like H2SO4 and Aramid do have poor
UV resistance and poor adhesion to polymer matrix, it is also expensive and have difficult processing. For
this application polypropylene and Aramid are not suitable and PP do have distortion temperature 80-120
C and reactor temperature is also 80 C so it may also go under distortion.

Pole Vaulters Pole

For pole the weight of the material is a very crucial factor and only very light weight materials can be used
for such kind of application. The mechanical properties of materials are also very important and basic
factor in this case.
Material Properties Required for Pole

Light weight
High mechanical strength
Stiffness
Repeating stress bearing (bending Stress)
High energy transfer properties

For making the product light weight with good mechanical properties carbon fiber is very good option.
Advantages of Carbon Fiber
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Low density
Very high Youngs modulus
High Tensile Strength
Excellent fatigue resistance
Low thermal expansion (cold and Heat)
Thermally and electrically conductive

Epoxy do have very good adhesion properties with fibers and incorporates very good mechanical and
chemical properties with fibers and for carbon black epoxy is a very good combination.
Advantages of Epoxy
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Good adhesion to fibers

Better fatigue resistance
Good heat resistivity
Good mechanical properties
Good thermal properties
Good water resistance

Not Suitable Combination for Pole Vaulters Pole

Polyester matrix and glass fiber is not a suitable for a pole because polyester do have very limited
mechanical properties and glass fiber do have very high density and for pole light weight fiber and matrix
with good mechanical properties is required.

Ballistic Helmet
When selecting material for a ballistic helmet the mechanical and chemical properties are major part. And
to make it light weight is easy to use after manufacturing, a material with low density should be selected.
Material Properties Required for Ballistic Helmet

High Mechanical properties

High Impact strength
High Wear resistance
High ballistic properties
High chemical resistance

The basic requirement is ballistic properties and aramid is a low density material with good ballistic
properties but is very expensive as well and its processing is also difficult.
Advantages of Aramid
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High Modulus
Low Density
High chemical resistance
Good ballistic properties
Excellent damage tolerance (Impact and wear resistance)
Flame resistance, Self-Extinguishing
High Temperature resistance
Low electrical conductivity
Dimensional stability

Epoxy as a matrix is very good combination for aramid due to its good mechanical and chemical properties
and it also do have very good adhesion properties with fibers as well.
Advantages of Epoxy
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Good adhesion to fibers

Better fatigue resistance
Good heat resistivity
Good mechanical properties
Good thermal properties
Good water resistance

Not Suitable Combination for ballistic helmet

Carbon fiber and epoxy will not be a good combination for the ballistic helmet as carbon fiber does not
have high impact strength properties which are very important for such kind of application.

BMW 7 series Dashboard

For BMW 7 series dashboard with other technical properties aesthetic and surface properties are also
very important and those materials are best suitable which can be given good aesthetics and surface
properties.
Material Properties Required for BMW 7 series Dashboard

High mechanical properties

High weather resistance
Good aesthetic properties
Dimensional stability
Ease of processing

Glass fiber is very much suitable then other material as it do have good dimension stability and there is
no restriction of color like carbon black and also it do have many good mechanical properties.
Advantages of Glass Fiber
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Good mechanical properties

High thermal insulation properties
For cars also gives good sound damping properties
Easy to give any color and aesthetics to glass

Polypropylene with good mechanical and chemical properties and being a thermoplastic which can be
recycled and is environment friendly is also a good combination for this application.
Advantages of Polypropylene
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Good mechanical properties

Good chemical properties
Recyclable
Very low water absorption rate comparatively

Not Suitable Combination for BMW 7 series Dashboard

Carbon fiber and polyester as a matrix is not suitable for BMW dashboard due to the black color of
carbon black which restricts the aesthetics and surface properties and polyester is cheap and easy to use
but it dont have good adhesion properties with fiber and do have bad mechanical properties as well.