FIBER –REINFORCED

COMPOSITES
• ASSIGNMENT 210/3 MATERIAL CHEMISTRY
• NOOR YASMIN BINTI MOHAMAD ALI
• 134206
Composites
• A composite material can be defined as a combination of two or more materials
that results in better properties than those of the individual components used
alone.

• The combination of two material must have significantly different physical or

chemical properties that, when combined, produce a material with characteristics
different from the invidual components.

• Composite structures are quite common in nature where fiber and matrices are
combined.
Fiber – reinforced composite
• The reinforcing constituent is embedded in a matrix to form the composite. The
reinforcing phase provides the strength and stiffness.

• There is two type of fiber – reinforced composite which is continuous (aligned)

and discontinuous (short).

• Discontinuous can be further divided into two which is aligned and randomly
oriented.
Continuous fiber – reinforced composite
• The fibers are longer than a critical length which is the minimum length
necessary such that the entire load is transmitted from the matrix to the fibers. If
they are shorter than this critical length, only some of the load is transmitted.
Fiber lengths greater that 15 times the critical length are considered optimal.
• Aligned and continuous fibers give the most effective strengthening for fiber
composites.
• Continuous fibers are all oriented to one direction. Thus, there is great strength
obtained along this direction. Continuous fiber are also oriented in two
perpendicular directions where it gives the strength in two direction. Force
applied along any other direction results in lesser resistance than discontinous
fibers.
Discontinuous fiber – reinforced composite
• Discontinous fibers give you isotropic properties, for an example, mechanical
properties do not change along the direction of the force applied. Discontinuous
has lesser strength than continuous fiber along a particular direction, but these
fibers can take loads along any direction of the material.
• For aligned discontinuous fiber - reinforced composite the fibers are shorter than
the critical length. Hence, discontinuous fibers are less effective in strengthening
the material, however, their composite modulus and tensile strengths can
approach 50-90% of their continuous and aligned counterparts. And they are
cheaper, faster and easier to fabricate into complicated shapes. 
• For randomly oriented discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite the strength will
not be as high as with aligned fibers, however, the advantage is that the material
will be istropic and cheaper.
The best composite to build up:

1. Bicycle
2. Submarine hull
3. Aircraft wing
Bicycle
• The most suitable composite for carbon fiber – reinforced composite.
• Carbon fibers are very light fibers resulting in lightweight structures. The bicycle
can move faster.
• During an impact carbon fibers disintegrates which can make it is a very efficient
energy dissipation mechanism.
• The thermal expansion is basically zero where the carbon fiber remains in its
basic form when heated. The material can resist very high temperatures (1000
Celsius). The rider will not experience a overheated or expanded bicycle when
they ride on a hot weather.
• Carbon fiber also do not corrode easily which make the bicycle last longer.
Submarine hull
• The most suitable composite are glass fiber – reinforced composite
• The material is fairly cheap, which can be very beneficial for large structures.
• Glass fiber is moisture resistant. It resists the damaging action of water to some extent.
• The material also do not corrode easily which it beneficial for submarine as it always
in the water.
• The material has high strength to weight ratio.
• Glass fiber can be processed in various ways and in combination with many resin
systems: it is easy to trim after curing and processes such as wet layup and resin
infusion are as well available and do not require high investments.
Aircraft wing
• The best composite for aircraft wing is carbon fiber-reinforced composite.
• Carbon fibers are very light fibers resulting in lightweight structures.
• In this composite, can chose between stiff or strong fibers depending on the
composite part being produced and the type of carbon fiber material required.
• The composite also has the the exceptional impact properties where make carbon
fiber advantageous in various industry segments.
• During an impact carbon fibers disintegrates which can make it is a very efficient
energy dissipation mechanism.
Aircraft wing
• Carbon fiber-reinforced composite thermal expansion is basically zero which
make carbon fiber remains in its basic form even when heated. Moreover, the
material can resist very high temperatures (1000 Celsius).
• Carbon fiber composite structures do not suffer any fatigue issues if designed
and dimensioned properly. Finally, carbon fiber is permeable to X-ray and does
not corrode, which is a huge issue with metals.