Engineering Materials: Lecturer: Sobia Anwar

Lecturer: Sobia Anwar
[email protected]
ENGINEERING Department of Chemical Engineering
MATERIALS University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore
COMPOSITE MATERIAL
INTRODUCTION
Composite materials are materials made from two or more
constituent materials with significantly different physical or
chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the
macroscopic or microscopic scale within the finished structure.
A composite is a multiphase material that is artificially made, as
opposed to one that occurs or forms naturally. In addition, the
constituent phases must be chemically dissimilar and separated by
a distinct interface.
Composite materials are made up of materials that are not soluble
in each other.
COMPOSITION
Matrix Phase: Which is continuous and surrounds the other

phase often called disperse phase.
Dispersed phase: Dispersed impart their special mechanical and physical
properties to enhance the matrix properties.
1. Rods
2. Strands
3. Fibers
4. Particles
Schematic representations of the various geometrical and spatial
characteristics of particles of the dispersed phase
Classification scheme for the various composite types
Composition Classification
Polymer Matrix
Composites (PMC)
Metal Matrix
Matrix Composites (MMC)
Ceramic Matrix
Composites (CMC)
Composite Materials
Particulate
Composites
Reinforcement Laminate Composites
Fibrous Composites
PARTICLE-REINFORCED COMPOSITES
Large-particle composites
The distinction between these is based upon reinforcement or
strengthening mechanism. The term “large” is used to indicate that
particle–matrix interactions cannot be treated on the atomic or
molecular level; rather, continuum mechanics is used.
Dispersion-strengthened
For dispersion-strengthened composites, particles are normally
much smaller, with diameters between 0.01 and 0.1 m (10 and 100
nm).
Typology of fiber-reinforced composite materials
1. Continuous aligned fiber-reinforced

2. Discontinuous aligned fiber-reinforced
3. Discontinuous random-oriented fiber-reinforced
THE FIBER & THE MATRIX PHASE
Materials that are classified as fibers are either polycrystalline or

amorphous and have small diameters; fibrous materials are generally
either polymers or ceramics.(e.g. The polymer, glass, carbon, boron,
aluminum oxide, and silicon carbide).
The matrix phase of fibrous composites may be a metal, polymer, or
ceramic. In general, metals and polymers are used as matrix
materials because some ductility is desirable; for ceramic-matrix
composites, the reinforcing component is added to improve fracture
toughness.
REINFORCED
CONCRETE
Reinforced Concrete Wall
Concrete is a common large-particle composite in which both matrix

and dispersed phases are ceramic materials.
This basic concrete has high compressive strength but low

tensile strength.
Metal reinforcing rods are added to increase the tensile
strength.
REINFORCED CONCRETE
Since the terms “concrete” and “cement” are sometimes incorrectly
interchanged, perhaps it is appropriate to make a distinction
between them. In a broad sense, concrete implies a composite
material consisting of an aggregate of particles that are bound
together in a solid body by some type of binding medium, that is, a
cement.
The ingredients for this concrete are Portland cement, a fine
aggregate (sand), a coarse aggregate (gravel), and water.
GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC (GRP)
 Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), also known as glass fiber-reinforced plastic
(GFRP), is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine
fibers made of glass.
 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.
 The resin is used to provide shape, color and finish, whilst the glass fibers, which
are laid in all directions, impart mechanical strength.
 GRP is a lightweight, strong material with many uses, including boats,
automobiles, water tanks, roofing, pipes, cladding and external door skins.
 The plastic matrix may be epoxy, a thermosetting plastic (most often polyester
or vinyl ester) or thermoplastic.
CARBON FIBERS
Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer is a very strong, light, and
expensive fiber-reinforced composite.
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.
APPLICATIONS
1. Aerospace and automotive
2. Bicycles and motorcycles
3. Laptops
4. Fishing rods
5. Paintball equipment
6. Classical guitar strings
7. Drum shells
8. Golf clubs
POLYMER-MATRIX COMPOSITES
Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) consist of a polymer resin as
the matrix, with fibers as the reinforcement medium.
CARBON–CARBON COMPOSITES
One of the most advanced and promising engineering material is

the carbon fiber reinforced carbon-matrix composite, often termed
a carbon–carbon composite; as the name implies, both
reinforcement and matrix are carbon.
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
LAMINAR COMPOSITES
SANDWICH PANELS
LAMINATION
 Plywood
 Laminated Plastic (Tufnol)
LAMINATION
A laminate is a material that can be constructed by uniting two or
more layers of material together.
The process of creating a laminate is lamination, which refers to
the placing of something between layers of plastic and gluing
them with heat or pressure, usually with an adhesive.
Need for Lamination
Brittle materials (concrete and ceramics) are strong at
compression but weak in tension since they are susceptible to
crack propagation. The use of composites overcome this problem
by preventing the crack from running.
The use of reinforcing fibers which hold brittle matrix in
compression, so an external tensile load cannot open up any
surface cracks and discontinuities.
PLYWOOD
Plywood is a man-made composite which exploits the directivity
of the strength of natural wood.
Plywood is built up from “Veneers” (thin sheets of wood) bonded
together by a high strength and water resistant synthetic resin
adhesive.
PLYWOOD APPLICATIONS:
1. Floors, walls and roofs in house and
transport
2. Vehicle internal body work
3. Packages and boxes
4. Container floors
5. Furniture
6. Musical instruments
7. Sports equipment
LAMINATED PLASTIC (TUFNOL)
Laminated Plastics are rigid plastic sheets reinforced with paper,
cotton cloth or glass cloth.
 Used for Washers, Gaskets, etc.
Reinforcing agent
1. Paper
2. Cotton
3. Cloth
4. Glass fiber
Depending on the reinforcing material and the resin (phenolic, epoxy
or silicone), the laminated sheets will have:
5. Electrical Resistance
6. Physical Strength
7. Resistance to Heat
TUFNOL
Tufnol is used for engineering products which have to operate in
hostile environment and inadequate lubrication.
Applications
1. Gears
2. Bearings
3. Circuit boards
4. Insulators

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Lecturer: Sobia Anwar

Matrix Phase: Which is continuous and surrounds the other

Reinforcement Laminate Composites

1. Continuous aligned fiber-reinforced

Materials that are classified as fibers are either polycrystalline or

Reinforced Concrete Wall

Concrete is a common large-particle composite in which both matrix

This basic concrete has high compressive strength but low

 Design goals of fiber-reinforced composites often include high strength and/or

One of the most advanced and promising engineering material is

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