Composite Materials

by Filler Type

Presented by:
Josephine L. Suelto
ECE 3-1

Composite Materials
Combination of two or more materials
Designed to display a combination of the best
characteristics of each material
fiberglass (strength from glass and flexibility from
the polymer)
Bonded together (adhesive) or mechanically locked
together

Composite Materials
Composite = matrix + fiber
Matrix
- component that surrounds the fiber
- hold the fiber in a favorable orientation
Fiber
- reinforcing material or fillers

Classification of Composite
Materials by Matrix:
Metal Matrix
Ceramic Matrix
Polymer (Resin) Matrix

Classification of Composite
Materials by Filler Type:
Particle-reinforced composites
Fiber-reinforced composites
Structural composites

Particle Reinforced Composites

Particle
- a minute portion of matter
- no long dimension
- any shape or size
Particles used are:
- small mineral particles (ceramics and glasses)
- metal particles (aluminum)
- amorphous materials (polymers & carbon black)

Particle Reinforced Composites

Particles are used to:
- increase the modulus of the matrix, and to
decrease the permeability and ductility of the
matrix.
- support higher tensile, compressive and shear
stresses.
- extend the strength or other properties of
inexpensive composites.

Particle Reinforced Composites

contain large amounts of comparatively large
particles.
designed to produce unusual combinations of
properties rather than to improve the strength

Particle Reinforced Composites

Particle Reinforced Composites

Particle Reinforced Composites

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Fiber
- a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue,
mineral substance, or textile is formed
- one long dimension
- used as continuous lengths, in staple-fiber form, or
as whiskers
Reinforcing fibers are metals, ceramics, glasses, or
polymers that have been turned into graphite or
carbon fibers.

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Fibers:
- have very high modulus of the matrix.
- have strong covalent bonds along fibers length.
- are difficult to process - relatively expensive.
Mechanical properties depend on:
- properties of fiber
- degree of load application
- length of fiber, their orientation and volume fraction

Fiber Alignment
Continuous Fibers
- Highest strength and stiffness
Discontinuous Fibers
- Used only for manufacturing economics

Fiber Alignment

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Aircrafts

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Spacecraft

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Racing sailboats

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Racing cars

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Tennis rackets

Fiber Reinforced Composites

Wind turbines

Composite Production Methods

Pultrusion
- Continuous fibers pulled through resin tank, then
preforming die & oven to cure

Composite Production Methods

Filament Winding
- Continuous filaments wound onto mandrel

Composite Production Methods

Prepreg Production
- composite industrys term for continuous fiber
reinforcement pre-impregnated with a polymer
resin that is only partially cured.
- delivered in tape form to the manufacturer who
then molds and fully cures the product without
having to add any resin

Composite Production Methods

Video Links:
Pultrusion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxWtzlitq1A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sH9rIGWNvc
Filament Winding:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ign6W5ENJAA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg3UgNtuVB8
Prepreg Process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-zI9xbwxZY

Thank you for listening.

References:
http://science.jrank.org/pages/1665/CompositeMaterials-Particle-reinforced-composites.html
http://science.jrank.org/pages/1666/CompositeMaterials-Fiber-reinforced-composites.html
http://www.scaled.com/index.html
http://composite.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?
site=http%3A%2F%2Fpoisson.me.dal.ca
%2FDesign_projs%2F96_97%2Fcomposite%2F
Various PowerPoint presentations

Quiz
1.
2.
3.
4.

Combination of two or more materials

Two composite production methods
?
A minute portion of matter which has no long
dimension and comes in any shape or size
5. Another term for reinforcing materials or fiber
6. Strongest fiber alignment
7. Combination of cobalt and tungsten carbide