Materials and Processes

for Agricultural and

Biosystems Engineering

Composite Materials
Introduction
Composite materials can be made up from materials that are not soluble in each other.
Composite materials are not alloys.

In its simplest form a composite material consists of two dissimilar materials in which one
material forms a matrix to bond together the other (reinforcement ) material. The matrix and
reinforcement are chosen so that their mechanical properties complement each other, whilst their
deficiencies are neutralized.

Most composites have been created to improve combinations of mechanical characteristics such
as stiffness, toughness, and ambient and high-temperature strength.
Structural Composites
A structural composite is normally composed of both homogeneous and composite
materials, the properties of which depend not only on the properties of the constituent
materials but also on the geometrical design of the various structural elements.
Laminar composites and sandwich panels are two of the most common structural
composites; only a relatively superficial examination is offered here for them.
Structural Composites:
Laminar Composites
A laminar composite is composed of two-dimensional sheets or panels
that have a preferred high-strength direction such as is found in wood and continuous
and aligned fiber-reinforced plastics.

Laminations may also be constructed using fabric material such as cotton, paper, or woven glass
fibers embedded in a plastic matrix. Thus a laminar composite has relatively high strength in a
number of directions in the two-dimensional plane; however, the strength in any given direction
is, of course, lower than it would be if all the fibers were oriented in that direction.
Structural Composites:
Laminar Composites
Plywood - a man-made composite which
exploits the directivity of the strength of
natural wood. When laying up the veneers,
care is taken to ensure that the grain of each
successive layer is perpendicular (at right
angles) to the preceding layer. When the
correct number of veneers have been laid up,
the adhesive component of the composite is
cured under pressure in a hydraulic press.
Structural Composites:
Sandwich Panels
Sandwich panels, considered to be a
class of structural composites, are
designed to be light-weight beams or
panels having relatively high stiff nesses
and strengths. A sandwich panel consists
of two outer sheets, or faces, that are
separated by and adhesively bonded to a
thicker core
Fiber Reinforcement
Technologically, the most important composites are those in which the
dispersed phase is in the form of a fiber. Design goals of fiber-reinforced
composites often include high strength and/or stiffness on a weight basis. These
characteristics are expressed in terms of specific strength and specific modulus
parameters, which correspond, respectively, to the ratios of tensile strength to specific
gravity and modulus of elasticity to specific gravity.
Fiber Reinforcement :
Reinforced Concrete
Concrete itself is a particle-reinforced material. It consists of a mortar made from a
hydraulic cement and sand. reinforced with an aggregate of chipped stones. The
stones are crushed so that they have a rough texture and sharp corners that will key
into and bond with the mortar matrix. This basic concrete has a very high compressive
strength but is very weak in tension. To improve its performance overall, metal
reinforcing rods are added.
Fiber Reinforcement : Glass-
Reinforced Plastics (GRP)
This important composite material is produced when a plastic material,
usually a polyester resin is reinforced with glass fiber in strand or mat form. The resin
is used to provide shape, color and finish, whilst the glass fibers, which are laid in all
directions, impart mechanical strength.
Fiber Reinforcement : Carbon
Fibers
These have a higher elastic modulus and lower density than glass fibers,
and can be used to reinforce composite materials having a higher strength to weight
ratio. Carbon fibers are used as a reinforcement in polymeric materials for a wide
range of lightweight, high-strength applications. For example, carbon fibers are used
in the manufactures of gas turbine fan blades, racing car body panels, high-
performance tennis racket frames and high performance golf club shafts.