Materials Engineering Lecture 13: Composite materials
What is a composite material Wood: cellulose (strong and flexible polymer) + lignin (soft amorphous polymer) Pearlitic steels: soft and ductile a-ferrite + strong, hard and brittle cementite ↑ These are NOT referred to as composites Composite: multiphase artificial material having distinct interface and chemically different phases
Structural classification of composites Reinforce Al Reinforced ceramics Fiberglass Glass-polyester Composite composite ceramics
Matrix and dispersed phase Matrix: continuous phase surrounding the other phases Dispersed phase: inclusion
Mechanical properties of composites Properties of a composite depend on: Matrix material Dispersed phase material Amount of the dispersed phase Geometry of the dispersed phase
Cermets Ceramic metals Ni-YSZ Co / Ni – WC / TiC
Reinforced Polymers
Concrete Matrix: cement + dispersed sand, gravel Reinforced concrete: concrete + iron
Fiber reinforced composited Whiskers: very thin and long single crystals Fibers Metal wires