Composite

Materials
 INTRODUCTION
Word COMPOSITE signifies that 2 or more materials
combined on a macroscopic scale to form a useful material.

Properties that can be improved by forming a

Composite Materials

Strength Weight
Stiffness Fatigue life
Corrosion resistance Temperature dependent behavior
Thermal insulation
Wear resistance
Thermal conductivity
Attractiveness Acoustical insulation
History of usage of Composite Materials:
Straw used to strengthen mud bricks by Israelites
Plywood used for superior strength & resistance for thermal expansion
by Egyptians
Medieval swords & armors constructed with layers of different
materials.
DEFINITION:
Characteristics of Composite materials are:
(i) Individual constituents making up a composite material are always different
chemically &
(ii) They are essentially insoluble in each other.

A composite material is a materials system composed of a mixture or

combination of two or more macro constituents differing in form and/or
material composition and that are essentially insoluble in each other.

face sheet
adhesive layer
honeycomb
 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL

III PARTICULATE
I FIBROUS COMPOSITES
COMPOSITES
II LAMINATED a) Non-metallic in non-metallic
a)Continous fibres COMPOSITES composites
(aligned)
a) Bimetals b) Metallic in metallic
b)Discontinous
b) Clad metals composites
(short) or
whiskers. c) Laminated c) Metallic in non-metallic
glass composites
d) Plastic based
d) Non-metallic in metallic
laminates
composites (or cermets)
e) Laminates
fibrous
composites
Fibers and whiskers
BIMETALS

A > B
Stacking of successive oriented, fiber-reinforced layers for laminar
composite
Construction of sandwich panel
 Usually composite have 2 phases:
Matrix Phase (Continuous) &
Dispersed Phase (Particulates, Fibres)

Properties of composites depend

upon properties of phases, geometry
of dispersed phase (particle size,
distribution, orientation) and amount
of phase.