Composite Materials

Prepared By:
Er. Bijendra Prajapati
Lecturer
IOE, Pashchimanchal Campus
 Contents
Composite Materials
Dispersion strengthening
True particulate composites
Fiber- Reinforced composites
Laminar composite materials, examples
& their application
Wood, Concrete, Asphalt, types and uses
Nanocomposites, types, examples &
applications
 Alloy vs Composite
Alloy is a homogenous or a heterogeneous
mixture whereas composites are heterogeneous.
There is at least one metal in alloy, but it is not
necessary to have metals in composites.

Composites are made from two or more

separate materials bonded in such a way as to
form one solid piece of material. i.e. steel rods in
a concrete matrix
Alloys are mixtures of primarily metal atoms
which form a continuous solid solution. i.e. steel,
a mixture of iron and carbon
 Contd.
Alloy is a mixture that is more than the sum of
its parts, making something new. Iron by itself
is soft and ductile, carbon may be weak and
powdery, but when carbon dissolves in iron to
make steel it becomes harder and stronger.

A composite however tends to be more

additive, concrete is great in compression and
cheap, but fails in tension, while steel is great
in tension but expensive. So adding steel rods
to concrete results in a structure that is cost
effective and better than either alone, but not
a mixture.