ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No.

Particle-reinforced
composites
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 2

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this section, students will be able

to:-

• Understand what composites are and how they

are classified.

• Reason why composites are used in place of

other material types.
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 3

Composites
concrete Carbon fibres fibreglass

By Red~Cyan, By cobalt123,
released under CC released under CC
BY-NC 2.0 license BY-NC 2.0 license
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 4

Airbus A380
By Jun Acullador, released under
CC BY-NC 2.0 license
Composites make up more than
20% of the A380's airframe.

GLARE (GLAss-REinforced
fibre metal laminate).
Mat.
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 5

Composites
Composites: Composed of two (or more) individual materials
from the categories of metals, ceramics and polymers.

Material Tensile Elastic Ductility Toughness Density

class Strength Modulus
Metals Good Good OK Good Poor

Polymers Poor Poor Good Poor Good

Ceramics Good Good Poor Poor OK

COMPOSITES
A composite is considered to be any multiphase material that
exhibits a significant proportion of the properties of both
constituent phases such that a better combination of
properties is realized.
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 6

Natural composites
Wood: A natural composite of
cellulose fibres (which are
strong in tension) embedded in
a matrix of lignin which resists
compression.
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 7

Composites

The simplest composite materials are composed of just two

phases; the matrix, which is continuous and surrounds the
other phase, often called the dispersed phase.

Adapted from Fig. 16.1(a), Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

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Terminology and classification

Composites: Multiphase material with significant presence of
each phase.
Dispersed Phase: Enhances matrix properties. May increase
E, y, TS or creep resistance.
Matrix: The continuous phase. Fills volume, provides shape.
Transfers stress to other phase(s) and protect phases from the
environment.
Classification:
MMC, CMC, PMC
metal ceramic polymer
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 9

Composite classification

C o m p os ite s

P article -re in fo rc e d F ibe r-rein fo rc e d S truc tur al

L arg e- D isp ers io n - C o ntin uo us D is co n tin uo us L a m in ates S a nd w ich

p artic le s tre n g th en ed (a lig n e d) ( s h o rt) p a n e ls

A lig ne d R a nd om ly Adapted from Fig. 16.2,

o rie n ted Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 10

Particle composites

Particle-reinforced Fiber-reinforced Structural

Large-particle composites: particle-matrix interactions cannot

be treated on the atomic or molecular level.

The particulate phase is harder and stiffer than the matrix.

Cheap fillers: reduces cost (as the particles are much less
expensive than the matrix).

Resist localised deformations: Particles tend to restrain

movement of the matrix phase in the vicinity of each particle.
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 11

Particle composites

Particle-reinforced Fiber-reinforced Structural

Dispersion-strengthened composites:
Particles smaller: diameters between 10 and 100 nm.

Yield and tensile strengths, hardness are improved.

The small dispersed particles hinder or impede the motion of

dislocations (plastic deformation).
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Particle composites

Particle-reinforced Fiber-reinforced Structural

1. Large-particle:
Particles should be evenly distributed throughout the matrix.

Mechanical properties are enhanced with increasing

particulate content.

2. Dispersion strengthened:
Matrix supports load, small
particles stop crack propagation
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Particle composites

Two ‘rule of mixture’ extremes:

Elastic modulus, Ec:

upper limit: Ec = Vm Em + Vp Ep
E(GPa)
Data: 350
lower limit: Adapted from Fig. 16.3,
Cu matrix 300 Callister & Rethwisch 8e.
w/tungsten 250 1 Vm Vp (Fig. 16.3 is from R.H.
= + Krock, ASTM Proc, Vol.
particles 200 Ec Em Ep 63, 1963.)

150

0 20 40 60 80 10 0 vol% tungsten
(Cu) (W)

Application to other properties:

Electrical conductivity, se: Replace E’s in equations with se’s.
Thermal conductivity, k: Replace E’s in equations with k’s.
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 14

Particle composites

Particle-reinforced Fiber-reinforced Structural

- WC/Co matrix: particles: Adapted from Fig.

cemented cobalt WC 16.4, Callister &

Rethwisch 8e. (Fig.
(ductile, (brittle,
carbide tough)
: hard)
16.4 is courtesy
Carboloy Systems,
Department, General
600 mm Electric Company.)

- Automobile matrix: particles: Adapted from Fig.

tire rubber rubber carbon 16.5, Callister &
Rethwisch 8e. (Fig.
(compliant) black 16.5 is courtesy
Goodyear Tire and
(stiff)
0.75 mm Rubber Company.)
 ENR116 – Mod. 4- Slide No. 15

Particle composites

Concrete - gravel + sand + cement + water

Sand fills voids between gravel particles.

Reinforced concrete - Reinforce with steel rebar or

remesh - increases strength - even if cement matrix is
cracked.
From ciks.cbt.nist.gov

Pre-stressed concrete - Rebar/remesh placed under

tension during setting of concrete. Release of tension after setting places
concrete in a state of compression. To fracture concrete, applied tensile stress
must exceed this compressive stress.

Post-tensioning – tighten nuts to place concrete under compression

threaded
rod
nut
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Summary

• Composites are classified according to both

the matrix material and reinforcement
structure.

• Composites enhance mechanical properties

such as Young’s modulus and stress.