Composites

Dispersion strengthened
composites
Process of use of very hard, small
particles to strengthen metals &
metal alloys.
Small particles on the order of 10
5mm to 2.5*10-4mm in diameter are
added to matrix material.
These particles help matrix
resist deformation,
makes material harder & stronger
Classification of composites
Three main categories:

Particle-reinforced (large-particle and

dispersion-strengthened)
Fiber-reinforced (continuous (aligned)
and short fibers (aligned or random)
Structural (laminates and sandwich
panels)
1. Particle-reinforced
Composites
These are the cheapest and most widely used.
They fall in two categories depending on the
size of the particles:
a. large-particle composites, which act by
restraining the movement of the matrix, if well
bonded.
b. dispersion-strengthened composites,
containing 10-100 nm particles, similar to what
was discussed under precipitation hardening.
The matrix bears the major portion of the
applied load and the small particles hinder
dislocation motion, limiting plastic deformation.
Contd
Eg: Cement concrete, formed by
mixing coarse aggregate, fine
aggregate, cement and water in
different composition.
Eg: Grinding wheel, formed by mixing
asphalt, stone, resin of different sizes
Eg: Automobile tire, which has
carbon black particles in a matrix of
polyisobutylene elastomeric polymer.
 Concrete

The most common large-particle composite is

concrete, made of a cement matrix that bonds
particles of different size (gravel and sand.)
Cement is a fine mixture of lime, alumina, silica,
and water. Portland cement is a fine powder of
chalk, clay and lime-bearing minerals fired to
1500oC (calcinated).
It forms a paste when dissolved in water. It sets
into a solid in minutes and hardens slowly (takes
4 months for full strength). Properties depend on
how well it is mixed, and the amount of water:
too little - incomplete bonding, too much -
excessive porosity.
Contd
The advantage of cement is that it can be poured
in place, it hardens at room temperature and even
under water, and it is very cheap. The
disadvantages are that it is weak and brittle, and
that water in the pores can produce crack when it
freezes in cold weather.
Concrete is cement strengthened by adding
particulates. The use of different size (stone and
sand) allows better packing factor than when
using particles of similar size.
Concrete is improved by making the pores smaller
(using finer powder, adding polymeric lubricants,
and applying pressure during hardening.
Aramid Fibres (Kevlar)

Aramid fibers are widely used for reinforcing

composite materials, often in combination with
carbon fiber and glass fiber.
A) Reinforcement in composites like sport goods,
aircraft, military vehicles and many other.
B) Fabrics in clothing such as fire protection
clothes or bullet proof vests.
The matrix for high performance composites is
usually epoxy resin.
Typical applications include monocoque bodies for
F1 racing cars, helicopter rotor blades, tennis,
table tennis, badminton and squash rackets,
kayaks, cricket bats, and field hockey, ice hockey
and lacrosse sticks
Fiber glass
Nanocomposites
Nanocomposite is a multiphase solid material
where one of the phases has one, two or three
dimensions of less than 100 nanometers (nm),
or structures having nano-scale repeat
distances between the different phases that
make up the material.
In the broadest sense this definition can
include porous media, colloids, gels and
copolymers, but is more usually taken to mean
the solid combination of a bulk matrix and
nano-dimensional phase(s) differing in
properties due to dissimilarities in structure
and chemistry.
Contd

Nano composites differ from conventional

composite materials due to the exceptionally
high surface to volume ratio of the reinforcing
phase and/or its exceptionally high aspect ratio.
For example, addingcarbon nanotubes
improves theelectricaland
thermal conductivity. Other kinds of
nanoparticulates may result in enhanced
optical properties,dielectric properties, heat
resistance or mechanical properties such as
stiffness,strengthand resistance to wear and
damage. In general, the nano reinforcement is
dispersed into the matrix during processing
Applications

Producing batteries with greater power

output.
Speeding up the healing process for
broken bones.
Producing structural components with a
high strength-to-weight ratio.
Making lightweight sensors with
nanocomposites.
Usingnanocompositesto make flexible
batteries.
Making tumors easier to see and remove