Fiber Based Composite Materials

Processing and Applications

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 Contents
1. What is a composite Material?
2. Composite Survey
3. Fibers
4. Fiber Orientation – Three Cases
5. Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs)
6. FRC COMPONENTS
7. FRP Properties
8. FRP Applications
9. References
 What is a composite Material?

• A judicious combination of two or more materials that produces a

synergistic effect. A material system composed of two or more
physically distinct phases whose combination produces aggregate
properties that are different from those of its constituents.
• To obtain a more desirable combination of properties (principle of
combined action)
e.g., low density and high strength
 Composite Survey

Com posites

Particle-reinforced Fiber-reinforced Structural

Large- Dispersion- Continuous Discontinuous Lam inates Sandwich

particle strengthened (aligned) (short) panels

Aligned Random ly
oriented
 Fibers
Filaments of reinforcing material, usually circular in cross‑section
Diameters range from less than 0.0025 mm to about 0.13 mm, depending
on material
Filaments provide greatest opportunity for strength enhancement of
composites
The filament form of most materials is significantly stronger than the
bulk form
As diameter is reduced, the material becomes oriented in the fiber axis
direction and probability of defects in the structure decreases
significantly
 Fiber Orientation – Three Cases
One‑dimensional reinforcement, in which maximum strength and stiffness are
obtained in the direction of the fiber

Planar reinforcement, in some cases in the form of a two‑dimensional woven

fabric

Random or three‑dimensional in which the composite material tends to possess

isotropic properties
 Materials for fiber

Fiber materials in fiber reinforced composites:

Glass – most widely used filament
Carbon – high elastic modulus
Boron – very high elastic modulus
Polymers - Kevlar
Ceramics – SiC and Al2O3
Metals - steel
The most important commercial use of fibers is in polymer composites
 Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs)
A PMC consisting of a polymer matrix imbedded with high‑strength
fibers.

Polymer matrix materials:

Usually a thermosetting (TS) plastic such as unsaturated polyester or
epoxy
Can also be thermoplastic (TP), such as nylons (polyamides),
polycarbonate, polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride
Fiber reinforcement is widely used in rubber products such as tires and
conveyor belts
Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs)
 Reinforcing fibers can be made of metals, ceramics, glasses, or
polymers that have been turned into graphite and known as carbon
fibers.
 Fibers increase the modulus of the matrix material. The strong
covalent bonds along the fiber's length gives them a very high modulus
in this direction because to break or extend the fiber the bonds must
also be broken or moved.
 Fibers are difficult to process into composites which makes fiber-
reinforced composites relatively expensive.
 Fiber-reinforced composites are used in some of the most advanced,
and therefore most expensive, sports equipment, such as a time-trial
racing bicycle frame which consists of carbon fibers in a thermoset
polymer matrix.
 Body parts of race cars and some automobiles are composites made of
glass fibers (or fiberglass) in a thermoset matrix.
 Note: Fiber composite
manufacturers often rotate layers
of fibers to avoid directional
variations in the modulus.
 FRC COMPONENTS

A fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) consists of three components:

(i) the fibers as the discontinuous or dispersed phase,
(ii) the matrix as the continuous phase,
(iii) the fine interphase region, also known as the interface.
 FRP Properties
• High strength‑to‑weight and modulus‑to‑weight ratios
• Low specific gravity - a typical FRP weighs only about 1/5 as much as
steel; yet, strength and modulus are comparable in fiber direction
• Good fatigue strength
• Good corrosion resistance, although polymers are soluble in various
chemicals
• Low thermal expansion - for many FRPs, leading to good dimensional
stability
• Significant anisotropy in properties
 FRP Applications
Aerospace – much of the structural weight of todays airplanes and
helicopters consist of advanced FRPs.

Automotive – somebody panels for cars and truck cabs

Continued use of low-carbon sheet steel in cars is evidence of its low
cost and ease of processing.

Sports and recreation

Fiberglass reinforced plastic has been used for boat hulls since the
1940s
Fishing rods, tennis rackets, golf club shafts, helmets, skis, bows and
arrows.
 References

1. Engineering Chemistry by Jain & Jain

2. A text book of Engineering Chemistry by Shashi Chawla
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_material
4. https://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?
id=classification%20of_composites