MANUFACTURE & MATERIALS 3

COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Course Summary

1. Introduction
 Overview of composite materials; definitions, properties in general.
 Types of composites: matrix materials; types of reinforcement, materials &
form.
 Metal matrix, ceramic matrix and polymer composites.

2. Properties
 Volume fraction; Weight fraction; Density; Specific stiffness; Specific
strength.
 Elastic properties: stress-strain behaviour; modelling stiffness (Iso-stress &
Iso-strain); Modulus of a composite; Anisotropy.
 Strength - stress transfer and the interface; minimum fibre length; critical
aspect ratio of fibre.
 Composite failure; crack propagation and toughness; fibre pull-out, crack
deflection, debonding.

3. Metal matrix composites

 Matrix materials - lightweight, ductile alloys: aluminium, titanium, magnesium.
 Reinforcement - ceramic fibres: silicon carbide, borsic; metal fibres: tungsten,
boron.
 Good strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios: Aircraft and
Spacecraft applications, High stiffness with low inertia: reciprocating engines.
 Manufacture: near net shapes can be produced - solid and liquid state
techniques (powder methods, lay-up, hot pressing, squeeze casting).

4. Polymer matrix composites

 Matrix materials - thermoplastic; thermoset and elastomers.
 Reinforcement - glass, Kevlar, carbon.
 Manufacture; wet lay-up, injection moulding, vacuum and autoclave
techniques, Sheet and Dough moulding compounds, pultrusion.
 Applications - car bodies, offshore platforms, aircraft body, floors, wing
struts, Ships.

5. Ceramic matrix composites

 Matrix and Reinforcement both ceramic
 Main reason is to improve fracture toughness
 Manufacture: powder methods, liquid infiltration, Sol-gel, vapour deposition
 Applications: engine components, high temperature applications

Bibliography
 Materials Science and Engineering – An Introduction, William D Callister, Jr.,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 6 th Edition, 2003, ISBN 0-471-22471-5
 Composite Materials: Engineering and Science, F.L. Matthews and R.D.
Rawlings, Chapman Hall, 1st Edition, 1994, ISBN 0 412 55970 6 (PB)

Dr Anjali De Silva