FIBER REINFORCED

COMPOSITES
 FIBERS:

1. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites

• Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) is a
Polymer Matrix Composite material reinforced
by carbon fibers.
• Carbon fibers are very expensive but they
possess the highest specific (divided by
weight) mechanical properties:
modulus of elasticity and strength.
 Carbon fibers are used for reinforcing
polymer matrix due to the following
their properties
• Very high modulus of elasticity exceeding that
of steel;
• High tensile strength, which may reach (7
GPa);
• Low density: 114 lb/ft³ (1800 kg/m³);
• High chemical inertness.
• The main disadvantage of carbon (Graphite)
fibers is catastrophic mode of failure (carbon
fibers are brittle).
 The types of carbon fibers are as
follows:

• UHM (ultra high modulus). Modulus of elasticity >

65400 ksi (450GPa).
• HM (high modulus). Modulus of elasticity is in the
range 51000-65400 ksi (350-450GPa).
• IM (intermediate modulus). Modulus of elasticity is in
the range 29000-51000 ksi (200-350GPa).
• HT (high tensile, low modulus). Tensile strength > 436
ksi (3 GPa), modulus of elasticity < 14500 ksi (100 GPa).
• SHT (super high tensile). Tensile strength > 650 ksi
(4.5GPa).
 Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP)
are characterized by the following
properties:
• Light weight;
• High strength-to-weight ratio;
• Very High modulus elasticity-to-weight ratio;
• High Fatigue strength;
• Good corrosion resistance;
• Very low coefficient of thermal expansion;
• Low impact resistance;
• High electric conductivity;
• High cost.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) are
used for manufacturing:
• automotive marine and aerospace parts,
• sport goods (golf clubs, skis, tennis racquets,
fishing rods)
• bicycle frames.
 2.Glass-reinforced plastic

• Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP),[1] also known

as glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP),[2] is a
fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic
matrix reinforced by fine fibers made of glass.
It is also known as GFK (for
Glasfaserverstärkter Kunststoff), or simply by
the name of the reinforcing fibers themselves:
fiberglass.
The types of glass used for fiberglasses
are as follows:
• E-Glass – the most popular and inexpensive glass fibers.
The designation letter “E” means “electrical” (E-Glass is
excellent insulator). The composition of E-glass ranges from
52-56% SiO2, 12-16% A1203, 16-25% CaO, and 8-13% B203
• S-Glass – stronger than E-Glass fibers (the letter “S” means
strength). S-Glass is used in military applications and in
aerospace. S-Glass consists of silica (SiO2), magnesia
(MgO), alumina (Al2O3).
• S+R-Glass – the strongest and most expensive glass fibers
of low diameter (half of that of E-Glass fibers).
• C-Glass – corrosion and chemical resistant glass fibers. C-
Glass fibers are used for manufacturing storage tanks, pipes
and other chemical resistant equipment.
 Properties:
• An individual structural glass fiber is both stiff
and strong in tension and compression
• GRP is a lightweight, strong material
Fiberglasses (Glass fibers reinforced polymer
matrix composites) are characterized by the
following properties:

• High strength-to-weight ratio;

• High modulus of elasticity-to-weight ratio;
• Good corrosion resistance;
• Good insulating properties;
• Low thermal resistance (as compared to
metals and ceramics).
 Applications
• GRP is also used in the telecommunications industry .
• Used for parts inboats, automobiles, water tanks,
roofing, pipes.
• Storage tanks can be made of GRP with capacities up
to about 300 tonnes. GRP tanks are also used for
septic tanks
• Other uses include sheet form made electrical
insulators and other structural components commonly
found in the power industries
• GRP and GRE pipe systems can be used for a variety of
applications, above and under the ground.
 3.Kevlar (aramid) fiber reinforced
polymers
• Kevlar is the trade name (registered by
DuPont Co.) of aramid (poly-para-phenylene
terephthalamide) fibers.
• Kevlar fibers were originally developed as a
replacement of steel in automotive tires.
• Distinctive features of Kevlar are high
impact resistance and low density.
 Kevlar fibers possess the following
properties:
• High tensile strength (five times stronger per weight
unite than steel);
• High modulus of elasticity;
• Very low elongation up to breaking point;
• Low weight;
• High chemical inertness;
• Very low coefficient of thermal expansion;
• High Fracture Toughness (impact resistance);
• High cut resistance;
• Textile processibility;
• Flame resistance
 TYPES OF KEVLAR FIBERS
• Kevlar 29 – high strength (520000 psi/3600 MPa), low
density (90 lb/ft³/1440 kg/m³) fibers used for
manufacturing bullet-proof vests, composite armor
reinforcement, helmets, ropes, cables, asbestos replacing
parts.
• Kevlar 49 – high modulus (19000 ksi/131 GPa), high
strength (550000 psi/3800 MPa), low density (90
lb/ft³/1440 kg/m³) fibers used in aerospace, automotive
and marine applications.
• Kevlar 149 – ultra high modulus (27000 ksi/186 GPa), high
strength (490000 psi/3400 MPa), low density (92
lb/ft³/1470 kg/m³) highly crystalline fibers used as
reinforcing dispersed phase for composite aircraft
components.
 MATRIX:

1.Polymer(Fiberglasses)
• Fiberglass is a common name of Polymer Matrix
Composite materials reinforced by fine glass fibers.
• The most popular matrix materials for manufacturing
fiberglasses are Thermosets such as
unsaturated polyesters (UP), epoxies (EP) and
Thermoplastics such as nylon (polyamide),
polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS),
polyvinylchloride (PVC).
• Fiberflass materials usually have laminate structure with
different fibers orientations in the reinforcing glass layers.
 Fiberglasses (Glass fibers reinforced polymer
matrix composites) are characterized by the
following properties:

• High strength-to-weight ratio;

• High modulus of elasticity-to-weight ratio;
• Good corrosion resistance;
• Good insulating properties;
• Low thermal resistance (as compared to
metals and ceramics).
 Applications of Fiber Glass.
• Fiberglass materials are used for
manufacturing:
• boat hulls and marine structures,
• automobile and truck body panels,
• pressure vessels,
• aircraft wings and fuselage sections,
• housings for radar systems,
• welding helmets, roofs, pipes.
 2.Metal Matrix Composites
According to the
classification of composite materials:
Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) is a material
consisting of a metallic matrix combined with a
ceramic (oxides, carbides) or metallic (lead,
tungsten, molybdenum) dispersed phase.
• Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMC)
• Magnesium Matrix Composite
• Titanium Matrix Composite
• Copper Matrix Composites
 Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMC)

• Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMC) are

reinforced by:
• Alumina (Al2O3) or silicon carbide (SiC)
particles (particulate Composites) in amounts
15-70 vol%;
• Continuous fibers of alumina, silicon carbide,
Graphite (long-fiber reinforced composites);
• Discontinuous fibers of alumina (
short-fiber reinforced composites);
The following properties are typical for
Aluminum Matrix Composites:

• High strength even at elevated temperatures;

• High stiffness (modulus of elasticity);
• Low density;
• High thermal conductivity;
• Excellent abrasion resistance.
Magnesium Matrix Composite
Magnesium Matrix Composites are reinforced
mainly by silicon carbide (SiC) particles
(particulate composites)
The following properties are typical for
Magnesium Matrix Composites:
• Low density;
• High stiffness (modulus of elasticity);
• High wear resistance;
• Good strength even at elevated temperatures;
• Good creep resistance.
 Applications
• Titanium Matrix Compositesare used for
manufacturing structural components of the
F-16 jet’s landing gear,
• turbine engine components (fan blades,
actuator pistons, connecting links, shafts,
discs), automotive engine components,
general machine components.
 Applications
• Magnesium Matrix Compositesare used for
manufacturing components for racing cars,
• lightweight automotive brake system,
• aircraft parts for: gearboxes,
• transmissions, compressors and engine.
 Copper Matrix Composites

• Copper Matrix Composites are reinforced by:

• Continuous fibers of carbon , silicon carbon
(SiC), tungsten (W), stainless steel (long-fiber
reinforced composites);
• Silicon carbide particles (particulate
composites).
 The following properties are typical for
Copper Matrix Composites:

• Low coefficient of thermal expansion;

• High stiffness (modulus of elasticity);
• Good electrical conductivity;
• High thermal conductivity;
• Good wear resistance.
 Titanium Matrix Composite
• Titanium Matrix Composites are reinforced
mainly by:
• Continuous monofilament silicon carbide fiber
(long-fiber reinforced composites);
• Titanium boride (TiB2) and titanium carbide
(TiC) particles (particulate composites).
The following properties are typical for
Titanium Matrix Composites:
• High strength;
• High stiffness (modulus of elasticity);
• High creep resistance;
• High thermal stability;
• High wear resistance.
 Applications:
• Copper Matrix Compositesare used for
electronic relays,
• electrically conducting springs and
• other electrical and electronic components
 3.Ceramic Matrix Composites
• Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) is a material
consisting of a ceramic matrix combined with a
ceramic (oxides, carbides) dispersed phase.
• Ceramic Matrix Composites are designed to
improve toughness of conventional ceramics,
the main disadvantage of which is brittleness.
• Ceramic Matrix Composites are reinforced by
either continuous (long) fibers or discontinuous
(short) fibers.
• ceramic matrix reinforced by whiskers of
silicon carbide (SiC), titanium boride (TiB2),
aluminum nitride (AlN), zirconium oxide (ZrO2)
and other ceramic fibers. Most of CMC are
reinforced by silicon carbide fibers due to
their high strength and stiffness (modulus of
elasticity).
 Typical properties of long-fiber
Ceramic Matrix Composites:
• High mechanical strength even at high
temperatures;
• High thermal shock resistance;
• High stiffness;
• High toughness;
• High thermal stability;
• Low density;
• High corrosion resistance even at high
temperatures.
 Application:
• These composites are used for manufacturing
combustion liners of gas turbine engines,
heat exchangers, rocket propulsion
components, filters for hot liquids, gas-fired
burner parts, furnace pipe hangers, immersion
burner tubes.
• used for manufacturing heat exchangers,
filters for hot liquids, thermo-photovoltaic
burners, burner stabilizers.
 FILLERS: 

These are quartz Silica Tricalcium phosphate

and  Zirconium dioxide
 
•   Addition of fillers provide
•   Strength
•     Rigidity
•    Hardness
•    Increase in modulus of elasticity
•    Decrease in coefficient of thermal expansion
•   Decrease in contraction. 
 COUPLING AGENTS: 
Organic silanes such as gamma-methacryloxy
propyltrimethoxy silane
Functions :-
•  binds the filling particles to resin matrix 
• Allow  more flexible polymer matrix to transfer
stresses to stiffer filler particles 
• Provide hydrolytic stability by preventing the
water from penetrating along the filler resin
matrix.