Composite Materials

N. Rajesh Mathivanan
Department of Mechanical Engineering
COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Metal alloy vs. MMC

N. Rajesh Mathivanan
Department of Mechanical Engineering
 Carbide Tip Inserts Int. Space Station

Japan Diesel Engine Model

Piston for Toyota
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Alloy vs. Composite for Material Selection

• Alloy and composite materials are both made up of a mixture

of at least two components.
• Alloys and composites are also similar in that they exhibit
different properties than the properties associated with the
materials that are used to make them.
• Actually, alloys and composites are actually very different from
one another.
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Alloys

• Metals
• Alloys are complex materials composed of a base element and
metals or non-metals.
• The alloying elements are called alloy components, and their
number and specifics determine the complexity of the alloy
and its characteristics.
• A metal enters the composition of alloys (e.g. Bronze: copper
and tin alloy, Steel: iron and carbon alloy, etc.).
• Alloys acquire completely new characteristics, which differ
from the ones of their components: more favorable
mechanical properties, increased corrosion resistance, color
change, improved processing ability, etc.
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
MMCs

• Composite material is a type of material consisting of a

combination of two or more simple (monolithic) materials and
in which the individual components retain their distinctive
identity.
• The composite material has properties different from the
properties of its components.
• This often means that the physical properties.
• In principle there are two phases (components) in the
composite material: the matrix and the reinforcement.
• The matrix is ​softer and serves as a filler to achieve stability of
the shape of the hard phase.
• The reinforcement is the solid and hard component.
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Difference Between for Material Selection

Alloy Composite
Mixture of metals or a mixture of a metal A composite is a tailor made substance
and another element of any combination
The element getting introduced dissolves The component forming the base of the
into the metal getting alloyed (solvent) composite (matrix) and the added
to form a solid solution. Cannot be element remain undissolved and could
distinguished be identified.
Homogeneous mixture Can be homogeneous or heterogeneous
The constituent elements do not retain The materials forming the composite
their original properties retain their original properties
Have completely different enhanced Carry traces of elemental characteristics
properties than the reactant elements
Do not have strict proportions in Have strict proportions in elemental
elemental composition composition
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Introduction for Material Selection

• Metal matrix composites (MMCs) usually consist of a low-density

metal, such as aluminum or magnesium, reinforced with
particulate or fibers of a ceramic material, such as silicon
carbide or graphite.
• Compared with unreinforced metals, MMCs offer higher specific
strength and stiffness, higher operating temperature, and
greater wear resistance, as well as the opportunity to tailor
these properties for a particular application.
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Objectives

• The development objectives for light metal composite

materials are:
• Increase in yield strength and tensile strength at room
temperature and above while maintaining the minimum ductility
or rather toughness,
• Increase in creep resistance at higher temperatures compared to
that of conventional alloys,
• Increase in fatigue strength, especially at higher temperatures,
• Improvement of thermal shock resistance,
• Improvement of corrosion resistance,
• Increase in Young’s modulus,
• Reduction of thermal elongation.
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Reasons for Material Selection
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Reasons for Material Selection
Recap . . .

• Characteristics of MMC
• Metal alloy vs. MMC
THANK YOU

N. Rajesh Mathivanan
Department of Mechanical Engineering
rajesh.mathivanan@pes.edu