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Composites
Composites are combinations of two materials in which one of the material is called the reinforcing phase, is in the form of fibers, sheets, or particles, and is embedded in the other material called the matrix phase. Typically, reinforcing materials are strong with low densities while the matrix is usually a ductile or tough material. If the composite is designed and fabricated correctly, it combines the strength of the reinforcement with the toughness of the matrix to achieve a combination of desirable properties not available in any single conventional material.
Matrix materials
Polymers Metals Ceramics
Interface
Bonding surface
Composites
The essence of the concept of composites is that the load is applied over a large surface area of the matrix. Matrix then transfers the load to the reinforcement, which being stiffer, increases the strength of the composite. It is important to note that there are many matrix materials and even more fiber types, which can be combined in countless ways to produce just the desired properties. In the United States, composites manufacturing is a 25 billion dollar a year industry. There are about 6000 composites related manufacturing plants and materials distributors across the U.S. The industry employs more than 235,000 people. An additional 250,000 people are employed in businesses that support the composites industry, including materials suppliers, equipment vendors, and other support personnel. About 90% of all composites produced are comprised of glass fiber and either polyester or vinylester resin. Composites are broadly known as reinforced plastics.
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Composites
Fibers
Matrix materials
Matrix materials are usually thermoplastics or thermosets; polyester, epoxy (80% of reinforced plastics), fluorocarbon, silicon, phenolic.
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Effect of type, length, % volume, and orientation of fibers in a fiber reinforced plastic (nylon)
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Application of Composites
Lance Armstrongs 2-lb. Trek bike, 2004 Tour de France
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Advantages of Composites
Higher Specific Strength (strength-to-weight ratio) Composites have a higher specific strength than many other materials. A distinct advantage of composites over other materials is the ability to use many combinations of resins and reinforcements, and therefore custom tailor the mechanical and physical properties of a structure.
The lowest properties for each material are associated with simple manufacturing processes and material forms (e.g. spray lay-up glass fibre), and the higher properties are associated with higher technology manufacture (e.g. autoclave moulding of unidirectional glass fibre), the aerospace industry. 15
Advantages of Composites
Design flexibility Composites have an advantage over other materials because they can be molded into complex shapes at relatively low cost. This gives designers the freedom to create any shape or configuration. Boats are a good example of the success of composites. Corrosion Resistance Composites products provide long-term resistance to severe chemical and temperature environments. Composites are the material of choice for outdoor exposure, chemical handling applications, and severe environment service.
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Advantages of Composites
Low Relative Investment One reason the composites industry has been successful is because of the low relative investment in setting-up a composites manufacturing facility. This has resulted in many creative and innovative companies in the field. Durability Composite products and structures have an exceedingly long life span. Coupled with low maintenance requirements, the longevity of composites is a benefit in critical applications. In a half-century of composites development, well-designed composite structures have yet to wear out. In 1947 the U.S. Coast Guard built a series of forty-foot patrol boats, using polyester resin and glass fiber. These boats were used until the early 1970s when they were taken out of service because the design was outdated. Extensive testing was done on the laminates after decommissioning, and it was found that only 2-3% of the original strength was lost after twenty-five years of hard service.
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Disadvantages of Composites
Composites are heterogeneous properties in composites vary from point to point in the material. Most engineering structural materials are homogeneous. Composites are highly anisotropic The strength in composites vary as the direction along which we measure changes (most engineering structural materials are isotropic). As a result, all other properties such as, stiffness, thermal expansion, thermal and electrical conductivity and creep resistance are also anisotropic. The relationship between stress and strain (force and deformation) is much more complicated than in isotropic materials.
The experience and intuition gained over the years about the behavior of metallic materials does not apply to composite materials.
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Disadvantages of Composites
Composites materials are difficult to inspect with conventional ultrasonic, eddy current and visual NDI methods such as radiography.
American Airlines Flight 587, broke apart over New York on Nov. 12, 2001 (265 people died). Airbus A300s 27-foot-high tail fin tore off. Much of the tail fin, including the so-called tongues that fit in grooves on the fuselage and connect the tail to the jet, were made of a graphite composite. The plane crashed because of damage at the base of the tail that had gone undetected despite routine nondestructive testing and visual inspections.
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Disadvantages of Composites
In November 1999, Americas Cup boat Young America broke in two due to debonding face/core in the sandwich structure.
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