Fundamentals of materials science and engineering

WHY STUDY COMPOSITES?

With a knowledge of the various types of composites, as
well as an understanding of the dependence of their
behaviors on the characteristics, relative amounts,
geometry/distribution, and properties of the constituent
phases, it is possible to design materials with property
combinations that are better than those found in the metal
alloys, ceramics, and polymeric materials. For example, in
Design Example 16.1, we discuss how a tubular shaft is
designed that meets specified stiffness requirements.
INTRODUCTION
Many of our modern technologies require materials with unusual
combinations of properties that cannot be met by the conventional
metal alloys, ceramics, and polymeric materials. This is especially true for
materials that are needed for aerospace, underwater, and
transportation applications. For example, aircraft engineers are
increasingly searching for structural materials that have low densities,
are strong, stiff, and abrasion and impact resistant, and are not easily
corroded. This is a rather formidable combination of characteristics.
Frequently, strong materials are relatively dense; also, increasing the
strength or stiffness generally results in a decrease in impact strength.
PRINCIPLE OF COMBINED ACTION
Better property combinations are fashioned by
the judicious combination of two or more distinct
materials. Property trade-offs are also made for many
composites.
INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITES
Types of materials

New - High-tech materials,
engineered to specific applications

Old - brick-straw composites, paper,
known for less than 5000 years.
NEW MATERIALS
Carbon fiber
Carbon Nanotube Fiberglass
OLD MATERIALS
Mud Bricks Straws Concrete Bricks
INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITES
A type of composite that has
been discussed is perlitic
steel, which combines hard,
brittle cementite with soft,
ductile ferrite to get a
superior material.
INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITES
Natural Composites:

Wood (polymer-polymer)
Bones (polymer-ceramics)

WOOD
BONES
INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITES
Usual composites have just two phases:

Matrix (continuous)
Dispersed Phase (particulates, fibers)

MATRIX
The matrix is the monolithic material into which the
reinforcement is embedded, and is completely continuous.
This means that there is a path through the matrix to any
point in the material, unlike two materials sandwiched
together. In structural applications, the matrix is
usually a lighter metal such as aluminum, magnesium, or
titanium, and provides a compliant support for the
reinforcement. In high-temperature applications, cobalt
and cobaltnickel alloy matrices are common.
DISPERSED PHASE

The phase in a two-phase system that consists
of finely divided particles (as colloidal
particles), droplets, or bubbles of one
substance distributed through another substance
called also discontinuous phase, internal phase
INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITES
Properties of composites depend on:

properties of phases
geometry of dispersed phase (particle size, distribution,
orientation)
amount of phase

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPOSITES
Three main categories:

particle-reinforced (large-particle and dispersion-
strengthened)
fiber-reinforced (continuous (aligned) and short fibers
(aligned or random)
structural (laminates and sandwich panels)
PARTICLE-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

These are the cheapest and most widely used. They
fall in two categories depending on the size of the
particles:

large-particle composites, which act by restraining the movement of
the matrix, if well bonded.

dispersion-strengthened composites, containing 10-100 nm particles,
similar to what was discussed under precipitation hardening. The
matrix bears the major portion of the applied load and the small
particles hinder dislocation motion, limiting plastic deformation.


LARGE-PARTICLE COMPOSITES

Properties are a combination of those of the components. The Rule of
Mixtures predicts that an upper limit of the elastic modulus of the
composite is given in terms of the elastic moduli of the matrix (E
m
)
and the particulate (E
p
) phases by:

E
c
= E
m
V
m
+ E
p
V
p


where V
m
and V
p
are the volume fraction of the two phases. A lower
bound is given by:

E
c
= E
m
E
p
/ (E
p
V
m
+ E
m
V
p
)

LARGE-PARTICLE COMPOSITES

Where:
Ec: elastic modulus of composite
Ep: elastic modulus of particle
Em: elastic modulus of matrix
Vm: volume fraction of matrix
Vp: volume fraction of particle
FIBER-REINFORCED
This is a type of advanced composite group, which
makes use of rice husk, rice hull, and plastic as
ingredients. This technology involves a method of
refining, blending, and compounding natural fibers from
cellulosic waste streams to form a high-strength fiber
composite material in a polymer matrix. The designated
waste or base raw materials used in this instance are
those of waste thermoplastics and various categories of
cellulosic waste including rice husk and saw dust.