Composites Flashcards
What are the two components of a composite?
Composites are made of two component, these are a fibre/filament reinforcement and a matrix.
What is the role of the matrix in the composite?
-Transfer load to the reinforcement
-Binds reinforcement together
-Protects the reinforcement
What is the definition of a composite?
Composites are heterogeneous material systems in which individual constituents retain their characteristics but are incorporated into a single structure to give a new material possessing superior properties to the constituent materials acting independently.
List the properties that can be improved by replacing monolithic materials with composites
Strength, stiffness, weight, fatigue life, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, temperature dependent behaviour and thermal insulation
What is the classification of composites by the type of matrix?
Polymer matrix composites (PMC) - Metal matrix composites (MMC) - Ceramic matrix composites (CMC)
What is the classification of composites by the type of reinforcement?
Particulate - Fibrous → Short fibres → Continuous fibres → Unidirectional- Woven/braided - Laminate
Why do we use fibre reinforced composites (FRC’s)
Continuous fibres are inherently much stiffer and stronger than the same material in bulk form
Why is fibre diameter important?
Smaller diameter fibres provide higher fibre surface areas, spreading the fibre/matrix interfacial loads but come at a greater price
What are the ranges of FVF we expect in a composite?
Square packing: Vf=0.785
Hexagonal packing: Vf=0.907
In reality FVF is typically around 0.6 (lower due to manufacturing)
In what directions are fibres designed to be loaded?
Fibres are designed to be loaded along their length, and not across their width
Are FRC’s isotropic?
No, FRS’s are anisotropic materials. The properties of FRC’s are highly direction dependent on the direction within the material
How are carbon and graphite fibres produced?
They are produces by the controlled oxidation and carbonisation of carbon rich organic precursors (such as PAN polyacrylonitrile)
What are the important characteristics of carbon fibres?
-Bend easily and can be woven into fabric
-Have very low coefficients of thermal expansion
-Are anisotropic
What occurs during the graphitisation process of carbon fibre production?
The variation of the graphitisation process produces either high strength or high modulus fibres.
What are the groupings for carbon and graphite fibres?
-High strength (HS)
-intermediate modulus (IM)
-High modulus (HM)
-Ultra high modulus (UHM)
Are glass fibres isotropic?
Yes, glass fibres are isotropic
What are the main characteristics for E-glass?
-Good strength, stiffness and electrical properties
-Resistant to water leaching
What are the main characteristics for S-glass?
-It has higher strength, stiffness and temperature resistance
Why are glass fibres treated with sizing?
Fibres are treated with a SIZE to minimise damage during manufacturing
What is SIZE?
Size is a coating which both helps protect the glass filaments for processing as well as ensure proper bonging to the resin matrix.
What are aramid fibres?
Aramid is aromatic polyamide, this is most commonly known as kevlar.
How are aramid fibres produced?
They are produced by spinning a solid fibre from a liquid blend
What are the main characteristics for aramid fibres?
-Have high strength, low density, good resistance to impact
How are silicon carbide (SIC) fibres produced?
They are produced by the chemical vapour deposition of silicon and carbon core which turns them into titanium matrix composites (TMC’s)