Composite Materials

 Presented by
Pratibha Pathak
contents

 What is composites
 History
 Its phase
 Classification of composite
 Advantages (reason to use composite material )
 Application
 conclusion
What is a composite material?
• Composites consist of:
• Composite = matrix + fiber (filler)
• Matrix: material component that surrounds the
fiber
• Examples include: thermoplastic or thermoset
• Thermoset most common (epoxy, phenolic)
• Serves to hold the fiber (filler) in a favorable
orientation.
• Fiber or reinforcing material or Fillers
• Materials that are strong with low densities
• Examples include glass, carbon or particle
• Matrix and filler bonded together (adhesive) or
mechanically locked together!
Wattle and daub is one of
the oldest manmade
composite materials, at
over 6000 years old.
Concrete is also a
composite material and is
used more than any other
man-made material in the
world.
• They generally have two phases:-
Matrix Phase
Dispersion Phase

Matrix Phase:-
it is the continuous material constituent which encloses the composite and give it its bulk
form
Matrix Phase may be metal , ceramic or polymer

Dispersion Phase:-
it is the structure constituent, which determine the internal structure of composite.
Dispersion Phase is connected to matrix phase by bonding
 Classification of composite
There are two types of classification of composite material.

 Classification of composite material by matrix

 Classification of composite material by filler(reinforcing material or fibre)
Classification of composite by matrix

1. Metal matrix
2. Ceramic matrix
3. Polymer (Resin) matrix
Metal matrix composite (MMC)

 Metal matrix: Al, Ti, Mg, Fe, Cu, Ni

 Example: Al-SiC (silicon carbide)
 Example: Al-Al2O3 (aluminum oxide)
 High
strength, high stiffness, abrasion resistance,
dimensional stability, high temperature and toughness.
Ceramic matrix composite (CMC)

 Silicon carbide-silicon carbide (SiC-SiC)

 Same material both matrix and filler BUT filler
different form such as whickers, chopped fibers or
strands to achieve preferred properties.
Classification of composite by filler types
Particle reinforced composite

 A composite that consists of tiny particles of one material

embedded in another material
 Particles used for reinforcing include:
 ceramics and glasses such as small mineral particles,
 metal particles such as aluminum,
 and amorphous materials, including polymers and
carbon black
 Why particles are used?

 to increase the modulus of matrix.

 to decrease the permeability of matrix.
 decrease the ductility of the matrix and also used to produce
inexpensive composites.
 They provide reinforcement to the matrix material thereby
strengthening the material.
In which materials particulate
composites can be used?
 Metals
(aluminium alloy)

 Polymers
(Rubber)

 Ceramics
(Concrete)
Example:-

 Concrete where the aggregates (sand and gravel ) are the

particles and cement is the matrix. Particle reinforced composite
support higher tensile strength, compressive and shear stresses.
Fibre reinforced composite

 Fibre reinforced are composed of fibres and a matrix. Fibres are the
reinforcement and the main source of strength while the matrix ‘glues’
all the fibres together in shape and transfers stresses between the
reinforcing fibres.
 FRP is referred to as a fibre reinforced polymer is a composite material
made of a polymer matrix and some reinforcing material
 Fibre reinforced plastics are a category of composite plastic that
specifically use fibre materials to mechanically enhance the strength
and elasticity of plastics.
Types of fibre reinforced composite:-

• Continuous and aligned:-

The fibres are longer than a critical length which is the minimum length
necessary such that the entire load is transmitted from the matrix to the
fibres . if they are shorter than this critical length, only some load is
transmitted. Fibre lengths greater that 25 times the critical length are
considered optimal. Aligned and continuous fibres give the most
effective strengthening for fibre composites
 Discontinuous & Aligned:-
The fibres are shorter than the critical length. Hence discontinuous fibres are less
effective in strengthening the material, however, their composite modulus and
tensile strengths can approach 50 – 90% of their continuous and aligned counterparts.
And they are cheaper, faster and easier to fabricate into complicated shapes.
 Random :-
This is also called discrete,(or chopped) fibres. The strength will not be as high as
with aligned fibres , however , the advantage is that material will be isotropic and
cheaper
Factors affecting properties of FRP

 Mechanical properties of both the fibre and matrix

 Their volume relative to one another

 Fibre length and orientation within the matrix

Commonly used fibres

 Glass fibre (GRP)

 SiO2 , Na2CO3 and CaCO3

 Lightweight
 Moisture resistance
 Chemical resistance
 Good insulators
 High strength
 Cost (relatively cheap )
 Make protective apparel for astronauts and firefighters
 Carbon fibre (CRP)

 One of the lightest and strongest fibre

 High stiffness to weight ratio
 Corrosion resistant
 High tensile strength
 High temperature tolerance
 Low thermal expansion
Structural composite
 A structural composite consists of both homogeneous and
composite material. Their properties depend on, the
characteristic properties of the constituent material as
well as the geometric design.
 Structural composite are of two types
1. Laminar composite 2. Sandwich panel
Laminar composite

it consist of panels or sheets which are

two dimensional. These panels possess
preferred directions to achieve high
strength

Such successively oriented layers are

stacked one above with preferred
directions and then are cemented. Such an
arrangement or orientation ensures
varying highest strength with each
successive layer involved in material
Sandwich composite
 Sandwich panel is also a kind of layered
composite.it consists of faces and core.
 With increase in thickness of core, its
stiffness increase as seen in the most
common sandwich panel honeycomb
 Faces :- They are formed by two strong outer
sheets.
 Core :- core is layer of less dense material.
 Honeycomb :- structure which contain thin
foils forming interlocked hexagonal cells with
their axes oriented at right angles in the
direction of face sheet.
Advantages of composites

reason to use composite materials

 Higher specific strength than metals, non metals and even

alloys.
 Lower specific gravity in general.
 Improved stiffness of material.
 Composite maintain their weight even at high temperatures.
 Toughness is improved.
 Fabrication or production is cheaper
 Creep and fatigue strength is better.
 Applications

 In automobiles industries ( e.g. steel and aluminium body )

 Marine applications like shafts, hulls, spars (for racing boats)
 Aeronautical application like components of rockets, aircrafts (business
and military), missile etc
 Communication antennae, electric circuit boards ( eg PCB, breadboard)
 Safety equipment like ballistic protection and airbags of cars.
Conclusion

 Composite materials have been widely acceptable for structural and non-
structural applications in recent years due to the high specific modulus and
strength of the reinforcing fibres.

 Some Composite materials are very lightweight so they are used in

aeronautics.

 Glass, carbon, Kevlar and boron fibres are commonly used for reinforcement.

 A new class of high performance composite materials have been developed

from low density polyethylene(LDPE) and pineapple leaf fibre (PALF).