FIBER & MATRIX

TYPE OF FIBER
• Fiber Glass
• Carbon
• Aramid
• Boron
• Ceramic
 Fiber Glass
• Glass – most widely used fiber in polymer composites, the
term fiberglass is applied to denote glass fiber-reinforced
plastic (GFRP)
– E-glass – strong and low cost, but modulus is less than
other (500,000 psi)
– S-glass – stiffer and its tensile strength in one of the
highest of all fiber materials (650,000 psi). Has about five
times the tensile strength of steel and has a density of
about one third that of steel

• E-glass: Alumina-calcium-borosilicate glass (electrical

applications)
• S-2 glass: Magnesia -alumina-silicate glass (reinforcements)
 Fiberglass
-One of the disadvantage of fiberglass is
that it weighs more and has less strength
than most other composite fibers

-The widespread availability of fiberglass

and its low cost make it one of the most
common reinforcing fibers utilized in
aircraft non-structural composites
 Carbon
– Carbon – are generally a combination of graphite.
Graphite has a tensile strength three to five times stronger
than steel and has a density that is one-fourth that of
steel.
– The term carbon is often interchangeable with the term
graphite. However carbon fibers and graphite fibers differ
in the temperature at which they are produced.
– Carbon fibers : produced at approximately 2400º F and
composed of 93% to 95 % carbon
– Graphite fibers : produced at approximately 3450º to
5450º F and more than 99% carbon
– Advantages to carbon/graphite materials are in their
high compressive strength and degree of stiffness
– Disadvantage :carbon fiber is cathodic → promotes
galvanic corrosion when bonded to aluminum or steel.
 ARAMID
• Commercially known as Kevlar
• Advantage :
– High tensile strength, high tensile stiffness, excellent
toughness
– The tensile strength of Kevlar composite material is
approximately four times greater than alloyed
aluminum
– Produce no galvanic reaction with metal
– Strength to weight ratio, it is very light compared to
other composite materials, excellent vibration
damping characteristic, fatigue resistance, excellent
Impact Resistance
 ARAMID
• Disadvantage:
– low compressive properties
• Aramid is ideal for use in aircraft parts that are
subject to high stress and vibration
• Example : main rotor blades of helicopter
 Boron
• Boron fiber: made by depositing the element boron
onto a thin filament of tungsten.
• The resulting fiber is approximately 0.004 inch in
diameter.
• Advantage: has excellent compressive strength and
stiffness, very high elastic modulus.
• Disadvantage: high cost limits its application to
aerospace components and can be hazardous.
 Ceramics
• Silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) are
the main fiber materials among ceramics.
• Ceramic fiber are used where a high temperature
application needed.
• This form of composite will retain most of its
strength and flexibility at temperatures up to 2200ºF
• Application : some firewalls.
• Aramid fibers are the lightest, Fiberglass is the
heaviest
• Carbon is the strongest ,fiberglass, aramid
• Aramid is the toughest, fiberglass, carbon
• Carbon is the stiffest, aramid, fiberglass
• Fiberglass is cost effective, aramid, carbon
 MATRIX
Classification of composite material :

• Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs)

• Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)

• Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs)

Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs)
– Include mixtures of ceramics and metals, such as
cemented carbides and other cermets, as well as
aluminum or magnesium reinforced by strong,
high stiffness fibers
– Fiber : continuous, discontinuous, particle.
Volume of fiber usually never exceeds 20% vol.
– e.g., Aluminum with carbon fibers
– Become valuable in automotive applications
– Properties that are improved: specific stiffness,
specific strength, fatigue resistance, wear
resistance, thermal characteristic.
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)
– Ceramic matrix materials - very high temperature
– Fiber is used to add toughness, not necessarily higher in strength and
stiffness
– Ceramic materials used as matrices includes:
• Alumina
• Boron carbide
• Boron nitride
• Silicon carbide
• Silicon nitride
• Titanium carbide
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs)

Advantage Disadvantage
• High stiffness • Low toughness
• Hardness • Susceptibility to thermal
• Compressive strength cracking
• Relatively low density
 Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs)
• Polymer : type of plastic and include two general
categories, thermoplastic and thermosetting.
• Thermoplastic Resins
– Use heat to form the part into the desired shape
– If a thermoplastic resin is reheated, it will soften and could
easily change shape
• Thermosetting Resins
– Use heat to form and irreversibly set the shape of the part.
Thermosetting plastics, once cured, cannot be reformed
even if they are reheated.
– At this time, most structural airframe applications are
constructed with thermosetting resins
 Cont’
• Polyester
– Polyesters have good mechanical properties, electrical
properties and chemical resistance
– Low cost
– Application : fairings, aircraft trim, etc

• Epoxy
– Epoxies have improved strength and stiffness properties over
polyesters. Epoxies offer excellent corrosion resistance.
– Application : engine cowling, aileron, etc
 Cont’
• Vinyl ester
– Vinyl Esters are similar to polyester in performance. Vinyl
esters have increased resistance to corrosive environments
– Application : same as polyester but with added strength and
corrosion resistance

• Phenolics
– Excellent hidg-temperature and fire tolerance service (150 –
260 º C)
– Application : aircraft interior, electrical applications,
etc

Thermosetting resins are the most widely used

polymers in PMCs. Epoxy and polyester are
commonly mixed with fiber reinforcement
 Cont’
Classification of PMCs :
• Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Composite
• Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Composite
• Aramid Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite
 Types of Composite Materials
There are five basic types of composite materials: Fiber,
particle, flake, laminar or layered and filled composites.

ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 A. Fiber Composites
In fiber composites, the fibers reinforce along the line of their length. Reinforcement
may be mainly 1-D, 2-D or 3-D. Figure shows the three basic types of fiber orientation.

• 1-D gives maximum strength in one

direction.

• 2-D gives strength in two directions.

• Isotropic gives strength equally in all

directions.
ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 B. Particle Composites
• Particles usually reinforce a composite equally in all directions (called
isotropic). Plastics, cermets and metals are examples of particles.
• Particles used to strengthen a matrix do not do so in the same way as
fibers. For one thing, particles are not directional like fibers. Spread at
random through out a matrix, particles tend to reinforce in all
directions equally.
 Cermets
(1) Oxide–Based cermets
(e.g. Combination of Al2O3 with Cr)
(2) Carbide–Based Cermets
(e.g. Tungsten–carbide, titanium–carbide)
 Metal–plastic particle composites
(e.g. Aluminum, iron & steel, copper particles)
 Metal–in–metal Particle Composites and Dispersion
Hardened Alloys ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
(e.g. Ceramic–oxide particles) Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 C. Flake Composites
• Flakes, because of their shape, usually
reinforce in 2-D. Two common flake materials
are glass and mica. (Also aluminum is used as
metal flakes)

ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 C. Flake Composites
• A flake composite consists of thin, flat flakes held
together by a binder or placed in a matrix. Almost all
flake composite matrixes are plastic resins. The most
important flake materials are:

1. Aluminum
2. Mica
3. Glass

ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 D. Laminar Composites
• Laminar composites involve two or more layers
of the same or different materials. The layers can
be arranged in different directions to give
strength where needed.

• In laminar composites outer metal is not called a

matrix but a face. The inner metal, even if
stronger, is not called a reinforcement. It is called
a base.

ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 Laminar Composites
• A lamina (laminae) is any
arrangement of unidirectional or
woven fibers in a matrix. Usually
this arrangement is flat,
although it may be curved, as in
a shell.

• A laminate is a stack of lamina

arranged with their main
reinforcement in at least two
different directions.
ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 E. Filled Composites
• There are two types of filled composites. In one,
filler materials are added to a normal composite
result in strengthening the composite and
reducing weight. The second type of filled
composite consists of a skeletal 3-D matrix
holding a second material. The most widely used
composites of this kind are sandwich structures
and honeycombs.

ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 F. Combined Composites
• It is possible to combine several
different materials into a single
composite. It is also possible to
combine several different
composites into a single
product. A good example is a
modern ski. (combination of
wood as natural fiber, and layers
as laminar composites)

ME 429
Introduction to Composite Materials
Dr. Ahmet Erkliğ
2005-2006 Fall Semester
 PRE – IMPREGNATED MATERIALS
• Pre-impregnated fabrics, commonly known as
“prepregs,” are fabrics that have the resin system
already saturated into the fabric.
• Advantage : contain the proper amount of matrix,
it does not produce a resin-rich or resin-lean
component if cured properly.
• One limitation to pre-impregnated materials is
that they must be stored in a freezer to prevent
the resin from curing.
• Another disadvantage : usually purchased in full
roll quantities.