Applications of Composite Materials
Composite materials are widely used in various industries due to their unique properties, such as high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility. They are commonly applied in aerospace, automotive, marine, construction, and sports equipment. These materials offer opportunities for lightweight and durable solutions in a wide range of engineering applications.
5 Key excerpts on "Applications of Composite Materials"
- Shashanka Rajendrachari, Orhan Uzun(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Bentham Science Publishers(Publisher)
...Composites R. Shashanka, Orhan Uzun Abstract In this chapter, we have discussed the basics of composite materials, types, properties, and applications. Students will learn the fundamentals of composite materials and their importance in many engineering fields. Composite materials can be defined as “the combination of a hard and a soft material” or “these are the materials composed of different parts with specific ratios”. This chapter comprises of the advantages and disadvantages of composites and also focuses on different fabrication methods of preparing composites. Fundamentals of nanocomposites and their recent improvements are also added in this chapter. Keywords: Ceramic matrix, Composites, Fabrication, Fibers, Fiber-reinforced plastics, Fillers, Laminates, Metal matrix, Nanocomposites, Polymer matrix, Reinforcements, Resin. 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, composite materials are becoming more popular due to the possibility of fabricating high-tech materials for modern applications. Composites (see Fig. 1) are revolutionary materials that have been used in various engineering fields for more than 60 years [ 1, 2 ]. The important advantages of composite materials over other bulk materials are their high strength to low weight ratios, their stiffness combined with low density [ 3 ]. The reinforcing phases are always harder, stronger than the matrix constituent, and impart greater strength and stiffness to the matrix. Composite is a future technology, and therefore, more and more research work is going on all over the world to improve the microstructure, mechanical properties, electrical properties, corrosion resistance properties, and surface properties. One of the earliest man-made composite materials are bricks made up of straw and mud for constructing buildings during the Egyptian era, as drawn in their tomb paintings [ 1 ]...
eBook - ePubComposites Innovation
Perspectives on Advancing the Industry
- Probir Guha, Probir Guha(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
...In both the aerospace and automotive industry, there is an increasing demand for tough, strong, stiff, and lightweight materials to replace metals and their alloys as structural materials. Notice from the graphs above, metals provide strength and stiffness at the cost of weight. Composites can be up to 70% lighter than metals and three to five times stronger. They have the flexibility to be designed as stiff or flexible and are well suited for applications that need high tension and increased service life with low maintenance. Unlike metals, they can be customized to provide strength or flexibility in critical areas while keeping the weight down where strength is not needed. In addition to structural benefits, composites also exhibit higher damping capacity and the ability to suppress vibration. Composites also exhibit nonstructural properties as they are nonconductive, noncorrosive, provide high UV resistance, have low CTE, provide EMI shielding properties, and do not rot. From a manufacturing and design process, composites are attractive when large complex shapes need to be molded replacing metal counterparts. Monolithic design of composites is desirable over metal assemblies that are joined using traditional bolts or riveted joints. The number of parts that can be joined in automotive can be as high as thousands to a million in the aerospace industry...
eBook - ePubComposite Materials
Properties, Characterisation, and Applications
- Amit Sachdeva, Pramod Kumar Singh, Hee Woo Rhee, Amit Sachdeva, Pramod Kumar Singh, Hee Woo Rhee(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
...The thermal and mechanical properties of ceramic-matrix composites mean they are suitable for high-temperature applications; they are widely used in aeronautic and astronautic fields. Metal-matrix composites provide advantages over monolithic metals such as aluminum, iron, magnesium, titanium, etc. [ 5 ], as follows: Higher specific strength and modulus results from reinforcing low-density metals such as aluminum and titanium Lower coefficients of thermal expansion when reinforcing with carbon fibers with low coefficients of thermal expansion Maintenance of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures Higher elastic properties Insensitivity to moisture Higher electric and thermal conductivities Better wear, fatigue, and flaw resistance Higher fire resistance. Owing to these excellent properties, metal-matrix composites have a wide range of applications in automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries, and in other consumer products. These composites are widely used in ground transportation industries, including in drive shafts, engine components, and brake components [ 6 ]. The enhanced stiffness and strength of the metal-matrix composites make these materials a great choice for fabricating aircrafts. These composite materials are different not only in terms of their composition but in their properties designed for specific applications. Recently, polymer-matrix composites have been given extraordinary attention; however, there are important applications of the other types also, revealing their potential in various social and technical applications. In this chapter, the properties of the above-mentioned composite materials will be discussed. The use of composite materials is not limited to constructions, sports, automobile, or such type of applications, but also has great importance in the energy sector. Many composite materials are used as electrodes and electrolytes in electrochemical devices like batteries, fuel cells, etc...
eBook - ePubDesign and Manufacture of Plastic Components for Multifunctionality
Structural Composites, Injection Molding, and 3D Printing
- Vannessa Dr Goodship, Bethany Middleton, Ruth Cherrington(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- William Andrew(Publisher)
...3 Composites: Manufacture and Application Bethany Middleton Abstract Composite manufacturing covers a broad range of materials, manufacturing methods, and application areas. This chapter considers manufacturing routes, their applications, and research trends. It also looks at the limitations of composite manufacture and drivers for multifunction. Keywords multifunctionality composite composite manufacturing self sensing self reinforcing hybrid composites 3.1. Introduction Composites consist of two or more distinct phases, and although they make up a single material, the components remain individually recognizable and separable. The constituents that form the composite material must be present in reasonable proportions, say greater than 5%, and be dispersed uniformly among each other. By combining two (or more) different materials, the resulting composite benefits from the properties of the two constituent phases, and has properties not achievable by individual constituents (Thomas et al., 2012). Most composite materials generally comprise two phases, a continuous matrix combined with a dispersed reinforcement. There is a wide range of matrix and reinforcement materials resulting in a vast number of composite combinations, each with differing properties and benefits. Although metal and ceramic matrix composites exist, this book focuses on polymer matrix composites (PMCs). PMCs are often used as lightweight metal replacements and have the advantages of being lightweight, stiff, and strong, and generally have lower manufacturing costs when compared to metals. Considering the huge range of potential polymer matrix materials that can be combined with a number of different reinforcement types, which themselves can be arranged in various different architectures, the range of PMCs becomes apparent. Before multifunctional aspects can be explored, it is necessary to introduce the properties of composites and their manufacturing methods...
eBook - ePubIntroduction to Engineering Mechanics
A Continuum Approach, Second Edition
- Jenn Stroud Rossmann, Clive L. Dym, Lori Bassman(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
...15 Case Study 7: Engineered Composite Materials In Chapter 14, we noted that some biological materials are “composites,” comprised of multiple materials with significantly different physical properties. The resulting combined materials have characteristics that are different from any of their component materials. Many engineered composite materials are designed with similar objectives, often yielding materials that are stronger, lighter, or less expensive than traditional materials. We characterize the components as “matrix” and “reinforcement;” composite materials should have at least one of each. The matrix material surrounds and supports the reinforcement materials by maintaining their relative positions. The reinforcements impart their particular mechanical and physical properties to enhance the matrix properties. Like biological materials, engineered composites are often anisotropic, due to the orientation of the reinforcements. Engineered composite materials include concrete (and its steel-reinforced form as well), fiber-reinforced plastic (including fiberglass), metal composites, and ceramic composites. 15.1 Concrete Concrete itself is a “composite,” in the sense that it results from the combination of several materials. It is composed of (1) coarse granular aggregate sometimes called filler, embedded in (2) a hard matrix (cement or another binder) that fills the spaces among the aggregate particles and binds them together with the aid of (3) water. The ancient Roman architect/engineer Vitruvius * first wrote down a recipe for concrete—his version included volcanic ash as the binder. The Roman Colosseum was constructed from concrete; more recently, the Hoover Dam and Panama Canal have made good use of this material. It is now the most widely used structural material worldwide. We often use steel bars (which are very strong) to reinforce concrete (which is stronger in compression than in tension)...
