EME 4353 Advanced Engineering Materials

Lecture 2 :
Composite Materials
 Learning Objectives

1. To define a composite material, the major constituents

and various classifications.
2. To describe the role of the particulate and matrix
3. To define polymer matrix, metal matrix, and ceramic
matrix composites
4. To describe how one would estimate the material
properties of a fiber-reinforced composite material

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 Introduction

1. Definition: two or more materials type integrated to form

a new one with an interface separating them.
2. Composite are not new materials
 Ancient civilizations used bricks made of mud reinforced with
straw. Concrete: mixture of stones, known as aggregate, held
together with cement
3. Natural composites: bone, mollusc shells and wood

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 Definitions and classifications

● Both constituents have to be present in reasonable

proportions
● Plastics contain small quantities of lubricants, UV absorbers
and other constituents – not composites
● Both constituent phases have different properties
● Alloy with two-phase microstructure produced during
solidification – not composites
● Composite: Metal (matrix) mixed with dispersion of
ceramic particles (reinforcement)

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 Comparison of room temperature of ceramics,
metals and polymers

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 Matrix phase

• Constituent that is continuous and generally greater in

quantity.
• Can be ceramic, metallic or polymeric but metallic or
polymeric is preferred for their ductility
• Functions of matrix:
 Binds fibers together and acts as medium to transfer and
distribute stress
 Protects individual fibers from surface damage
 Separates fibers to prevent propagation of cracks from fiber to
fiber
• The matrix often determines the maximum service
temperature since it normally softens, melts or degrades
at lower temperature than fiber reinforcement

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 Reinforcement phase

• Also known as reinforcing phase.

 Enhances the mechanical properties of the matrix.
 Harder, stronger and stiffer than matrix.
• Strengthen mechanism – some applied stress
on the matrix is transferred to the reinforcement
• Group into 3 classifications on the basis of diameter and
length:
• Whiskers – extremely large length-to-diameter ratio
• Fibers –
• Wires – relatively large diameters

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 Fibers vs Monolithic

• Monolithic structures have poorer mechanical properties due to flaw

present in the structure. ( volume ↓, flaw size ↓, strength ↑)

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 Important parameters of reinforcement

● Geometry
 Shape: spherical, cubic, platelet
 Size: aspect ratio (ratio of length to cross-section)
● Orientation
 Preferred or random
● Concentration (amount or volume)
 Law of Mixtures
● Homogeneity
● Interface between the fibers and matrix

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 Reinforcement-matrix Interface

• Load acting on the matrix has to be transferred to the

reinforcement via interface
 Reinforcement-matrix bond must be strong
 Bonding refers to adhesion between reinforcement
and matrix.
• In order for bonding to take place:
 Matrix must be able to wet reinforcement
 Strong interfacial bonding between the two
• Mechanical properties, Xc depends on the volume of
reinforcement phase, Vf X X V X V c m m f f

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 Rule of Mixture (for particulates)

Modulus of elasticity versus volume

percent tungsten for a composite of
tungsten particles dispersed within a
copper matrix. and

Upper bound, EC(u)

Lower bound EC(l)

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 Length of fibers

• Aspect ratio (l/D) of the fibers decreases, the efficiency

in stiffening and reinforcing the matrix decreases.
• Fiber length must be at least equal to a critical value, lc


*
d
l2
f
c
 c

The deformation pattern in the matrix

surrounding a fiber that is subjected to
an applied tensile load.

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 Stress-position profile of fiber of various
length

l = critical length
c

 = ultimate tensile strength

*
f

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 Orientation and Concentration of fibers

• Orientation and concentration of fibers greatly influenced

the strength and other properties of the composite
• 3 types of fibers orientation
 Continuous and aligned, Figure (d)
 Discontinuous and aligned, Figure (b)
 Discontinuous and randomly oriented, Figure (c)

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 Longitudinal s Transverse loading

For longitudinal loading, For transverse loading,

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 Stress-strain curve

(a) Schematic stress–strain curves for brittle fiber and ductile matrix materials. Fracture stresses and
strains for both materials are noted. (b) Schematic stress–strain curve for an aligned fiber-reinforced
composite that is exposed to a uniaxial stress applied in the direction of alignment; curves for the fiber
and matrix materials shown in part (a) are also superimposed.

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 Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC)

• Polymer resin as matrix, fibers as reinforcement

• Used in the greatest diversity and in largest quantities in
light of their room-temperature properties, ease of
fabrication and cost
• Examples: glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites
(GFRP), carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites
(CFRP) and aramid fiber-reinforced polymer composites
• Methods of processing
 Hand methods
 Molding methods
 Filament winding

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 Comparison mechanical properties of GFRP,
CFRP and Aramid

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 Metal Matrix Composite (MMC)

• Matrix is a ductile metal e.g. superalloys and alloys of Al,

Mg, Ti and Cu
• Maybe utilized at higher service temperatures than their
base metal counterparts
• Reinforcement improves specific stiffness, specific
strength, abrasion resistance, creep resistance etc.
• More expensive than PMCs
• Some MMCs are highly reactive at elevated
temperatures leading to composite degradation.
 Resolved by either applying a protective surface coating to
reinforcement or modifying matrix alloy composition

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 • Processing of MMCs:
1. Consolidation or synthesis (introduction of
reinforcement into matrix)
2. Shaping operation (e.g. forging, extrusion, rolling)
• Advantages: lightweight, resists wear and resist thermal
distortion.
• Example applications:
1. Automobile industry
2. Aerospace

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 Properties of Selected Metal-matrix,
Continuous and Aligned Fiber-reinforced

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 Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC)

• Ceramic materials are inherently resilient to oxidation

and deterioration at elevated temperatures
 Main problem: brittleness
• Fracture toughness, KIC have been improved with
introduction of CMCs.

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 Transformation strengthening technique

• Improvement in fracture properties results from

interaction between advancing cracks and dispersed
phase particles
 Reinforcement phase (stabilizers) arrest the crack
propagation of cracks (transformation strengthening)

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 Carbon-carbon composites
1) Both matrix and reinforcement are carbon
2) Carbon can exists in crystalline form (diamond
and graphite, as well as quaiscrystalline and
glassy state
● For fiber reinforcement, graphite is the most
important structural form
3) Graphitic structure consists of:
 Hexagonal/basal layers – strong covalent bonds
 Inter-layer bonds – weak van der Waals bonds
4) Thus, properties of graphite are very anisotropic
 1000 GPa in basal plane, 35 GPa in c-direction

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 Advantage of carbon-carbon composites

1) Low density, ~ 2000 kg/m3

2) High sublimation temperature, 3700oC if
protected from oxygen.
 Major drawback: Carbon starts to oxidize at 500oC
3) Resistance to creep and large fracture
toughness values
4) Good electrical conductor
5) Low coefficient of thermal expansion, high
thermal conductivities  low thermal shock

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 Processing technique of carbon-carbon
composites

 Similar to carbon fiber-polymer matrix. 3 major steps:

1) Continuous fibers are laid down in 2-D or 3-D pattern
follow by impregnation with liquid polymer resin.
 Fibers are normally stretched to improve molecular alignment
and avoid distortion during curing (200-280oC)
2) Pyrolysis of polymer matrix – heating at 900-1200oC in
inert environment (N2 or Ar). Removal of oxygen,
nitrogen and hydrogen molecular components.
 Fair degree of porosity. Density ~1740 kg/m3
3) Graphitization – heating in argon at 2800oC to improve
strength and density. Final density 2000 kg/m3 (vs
density of graphite 2260 kg/m3)

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 Example 1

A continuous and aligned glass fiber-reinforced composite consists of

40 vol% of glass fibers having a modulus of elasticity of 69 GPa and 60
vol% of a polyester resin that, when hardened, displays a modulus of
3.4 GPa.
a) Compute the modulus of elasticity of this composite in the
longitudinal direction.
b) If the cross-sectional area is 250 mm2 and a stress of 50 MPa is
applied in this longitudinal direction, compute the magnitude of the
load carried by each of the fiber and matrix phases.
c) Determine the strain that is sustained by each phase when the
stress in part (b) is applied.

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 Solution

a) Modulus of elasticity of the composite,

Ec,l = (3.4 GPa)(0.6) + (69 GPa)(0.4) = 30 GPa
b) Ratio of fiber load to matrix load,

c) Fc = Ac = (250 mm2)(50 MPa) = 12,500 N

Fc = Ff + Fm = 12,500 N
13.5 Fm+ Fm =12,500 N
Fm = 860 N, Fc = 11640 N

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 c)

Remarks: Strains for both matrix and fiber phases are identical

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 Example 2

Compute the elastic modulus of the composite material

described in Example Problem 15.1, but assume that the
stress is applied perpendicular to the direction of fiber
alignment.

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 Example

Design example 15.1 (pg S-192)

(Ref: William Callister)

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