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COMPOSITE MATERIALS
TWO MARK QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Prepared By
Mr.M.THIRUNAVUKKARASU
Assistant Professor
UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION
1. What is a composite?
A composite is structural materials that consist of two or more combined
constituents that are combined at a macroscopic level and are not soluble in each other. One
constituent is called the reinforcing phase and the one in which it is embedded is called the
matrix. The reinforcing phase material may be in the form of fibres, particles, or flakes. The
matrix phase materials are generally continuous. Examples of composite systems include
concrete reinforced with steel and epoxy reinforced with graphite fibres, etc.
2. What are advanced composites?
Advanced composite materials are manmade composite materials. They
include as resin, metal or ceramic matrix composite systems reinforced with high strength,
high modulus continuous or discontinuous forms (such as continuous fibres, chopped fibres,
whiskers or particles). The resultant material exhibits entirely distinct, but superior properties
which are not exhibited by the constituting elements. Advanced composites are composite
materials that are traditionally used in the aerospace industries. Theses composites have
high performance reinforcements of a thin diameter in a matrix material such as epoxy and
aluminum.
3. What are natural composites? Give examples.
The composite material that exists in nature is regarded as natural
composites. Examples of such composites include, wood (composed of cellulose and lignin),
human or animal body (composed of bones and tissues) or even rocks and materials. Bones
themselves are composites made of two components, the organic and inorganic. The
organic component consists largely of carbohydrates, fats and proteins imparting pliability to
the bones. The organic component is calcium phosphate which provides rigidity and strength
to the bones. Sea shells and elephant tusk are also natural layered composites.
4. What are the common types of composites?
The most typical types of composites consist of an addictive or reinforcement
such as fibres or particles embedded in a supporting material called matrix. Usually these
are structural materials but they can also be special materials such as electrical conductors.
Some composites have no matrix and are composed of one or more constituent forms
consisting of two or more different materials. Laminates, for example, are composed entirely
of layers which taken together, give the composite its form. Plywood with multiple plies with
different orientation of fibres is a typical laminate composite. Sandwiches which are
composed of a thick and light core material bonded on either side by a thin strong facing are
also regards as composites. Many felts and fabrics have no body matrix but consist entirely
of fibres of several compositions with or without bonding force.
5. What is a reinforced composite?
A reinforced composite is one in which the primary purpose of the insert is to
improve the mechanical properties of the composite. The insert is called reinforcement. The
composite is formed is called reinforced composite.
10. Differentiate
composites.
between
dispersion
strengthened
and
particle
strengthened
UNIT 2
REINFORCEMENT AND MATRICES
1. Define the term fibres.
Polymers which can be drawn into long filament like materials having length
to dimension ratio (i.e. aspect ratio) of at least 100 are called fibres. Some of the examples
of fibres are nylon, Terylene, cellulose, Kevlar, etc.
2. Define the term resin.
The polymeric molecules in the form of flakes, granules pallets or viscous
liquid are termed as resins. Resins can be subsequently shaped into usable and product.
3. What are liquid resins?
If polymers are used as adhesives, potting compounds, sealants, etc. In liquid
form, they are preferred to as liquid resin, e.g. polyester resins, epoxy resins, phenolic
resins, etc.
4. List various factors affecting polymer materials properties.
Additives.
Branching.
Copolymerization.
Cross-linking.
Degree of crystallinity.
Glass transition temperature.
Molecular weight and molecular weight distribution.
Plasticizers.
Polymer structure and shape.
5. List the kind of structures commonly formed in polymers.
Three types of structures are commonly formed in polymers. They are,
Linear.
Branched.
Network.
6. What do you mean by branching?
Branching is the process of bifurcation of long polymer chain into two
branches at some point along its length. The formation and extent of side chains depends on
the operating conditions of polymerization such as temperature, pressure and catalyst type.
7. Give examples of various filler materials used in plastics.
Wood flour, chopped fabrics, asbestos, carbon black, talc, mica, gypsum, and
milled glass are examples of fillers.
8. What is cross-linking?
Cross-linking is the process of introducing a primary covalent type link
between polymer chains or their segments using a chemical reagent (such as sulphur or
oxygen in vulcanization process). Physical means such as irradiation can also be used to
introduce cross-links.
9. What are plasticizers? What is the purpose of adding them in a polymer? Name
some common plasticizers.
Plasticizers are low molecular weight monomeric liquids that possess low
volatility. They are added to a polymer to impart plasticity and flexibility and thus improve
processibility. Vegetable oils, low molecular weight polyesters and various phthalates are
commonly used as plasticizers.
10. What are fillers and what function do they impart?
Fillers are materials used to provide bulk and modify certain properties such
as strength, impact resistance, heat resistance and other similar properties. They are
generally chemically inert and do not react with resin during processing.
11. What are additives?
Additives are substance added to a polymer to modify or control its properties
and reduce the cost. Various additives includes stabilizers, colorants, catalysts, lubricants,
flame retardants, etc. Sometimes fillers and plasticizers are also included in the category of
additives.
12. Define the term polymer.
Polymers are high molecular weight organic materials made up of long chain
molecules containing principally hydrogen and carbon and may also contain atoms of N, Cl,
O and S. These are complex and giant molecules with molecular weight in the range of 10 4107 and formed by many chemically bonded parts or units. Due to their high molecular
weight, these polymers are also called high polymers.
13. What for catalysts added to a polymer?
Catalysts are added to control the rate and extent of polymerization process
in the resin. Catalysts are not used up in the reaction of polymerization. A catalyst may serve
the following reactions:
Promote the polymerization.
Permit specific orientation reaction to occur.
Give the added benefits of initiating the reactions.
Catalysts also affect the shelf life of the polymer. Metallic as well as organic
compounds are used as catalysts. A well known catalyst system is Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
14. Why are lubricants added to polymer?
Many plastics when heated during processing they become sticky. To
overcome this problem lubricants are added to the plastics.
UNIT 3
MANUFACTURING OF ADVANCED COMPOSITES
1. Draw the flowchart for composite laminate part fabrication?
UNIT 4
MECHANICS OF LAMINATED COMPOSITES
1. What are two basic approaches to the micromechanics of composite materials?
The two basic approaches to the micromechanics of composite materials are
Mechanics of materials
Elasticity.
2. What are the approaches performed in elasticity?
The elasticity approach actually is at least three approaches
Bounding principles.
Exact solutions.
Approximate solutions.
3. Define lamina.
Initially stress free.
Linearly elastic.
Macroscopically homogeneous.
Macroscopically orthotropic.
4. Define stress.
Stress is a measure of the internal forces acting within a deformable body.
Quantitatively, it is a measure of the average force per unit area of a surface within the body
on which internal forces act
5. What are the basic assumptions made in lamination theory?
Fibers are uniformly distributed throughout the matrix.
Perfect bonding exists between the fibers and the matrix.
The matrix is free of voids.
Both fibers and matrix behave as linearly elastic materials.
6. Describe the maximum principal stress theory?
Maximum Principal Stress Theory - Yield occurs when the largest principal
stress exceeds the uniaxial tensile yield strength. Although this criterion allows for a quick
and easy comparison with experimental data it is rarely suitable for design purposes.
20. What is the failure modes observed during longitudinal compressive loading?
Extensional mode
Shear mode.
21. What are quasi-isotropic laminate?
Quasi-isotropic laminate: these laminates are made of three or more laminas
of identical thickness and material with equal angles between each adjacent lamina.
22. Why the mechanics of FRP is more complicated?
Fiber-reinforced composites are microscopically in homogeneous and nonisotropic. As a result, the mechanical of fiber-reinforced composites are far more complex
than that of conventional materials.
23. What are assumptions made in FRP during analysis?
Both fibers and matrix are linearly elastic isotropic materials.
Fibers are uniformly distributed in the matrix.
Fibers are perfectly aligned in the direction.
There is perfect bonding between fiber and matrix.
The composite lamina is free of voids.
24. What is the difference between homogeneous and isotropic material?
For a homogeneous material, properties do not depend on the location, and
for an isotropic material the properties depends on location.
25. What are the types of problems associated in interlaminar stresses?
Three types of interlaminar stress problems associated with three types of laminates:
1. (q) Angle-ply laminates
2. 0/90 Cross-ply laminates
3. Combination of angle and cross ply laminates.
26. Where the interlaminar stresses will be high?
Interlaminar stresses can be significantly high over a region equal to the
laminate thickness near the free edges of a laminate. The free edges may be at the
boundaries of a laminated plate, around a cutout or hole, or at the ends of a laminated tube.
27. Define rule of mixture.
The Rule-of-Mixtures model is used to describe three-dimensional solids
having an arbitrary number of material phases with arbitrary orientations and volume
fractions. Orientations are defined for each phase using a triad of space-fixed rotation angles
in a 3-2-1 sequence. These angles rotate the composite material frame to the phase
frame. The orientation of each phase is defined by starting with the phase frame aligned with
the composite frame and rotating the phase material frame degrees about the 3-axis of the
composite material frame, then rotating the phase frame degrees about the 2-axis of the
composite frame, and finally rotating the phase frame
degrees about the 1-axis of the
composite frame. Rule-of-Mixtures composites are, in general, fully anisotropic.
UNIT 5
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES