Composite Materials

Technology and Classification of Composite

Materials
Metal Matrix Composites
Ceramic Matrix Composites
Polymer Matrix Composites

TOPICS
 What is a composite material?

A composite material is a material system

composed of two or more physically distinct
phases whose combination produces aggregate
properties that are different from those of its
constituents.
Technology and Classification of Composite Materials
General Classification of Composite Materials
• Traditional composites are those that occur in nature or have been
produced by civilizations for many years. Wood is a naturally
occurring composite material, while concrete (Portland cement
plus sand or gravel) and asphalt mixed with gravel are traditional
composites used in construction.
• Synthetic composites are modern material systems normally
associated with the manufacturing industries, in which the
components are first produced separately and then combined in a
controlled way to achieve the desired structure, properties, and
part geometry.
 Components in a composite material

The primary phase forms the matrix within which the

secondary phase is imbedded. The imbedded phase is
sometimes referred to as a reinforcing agent (or similar
term), because it usually serves to strengthen the
composite.
The classification system for composite materials is based on the
matrix phase.
1. Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) include mixtures of ceramics
and metals, such as cemented carbides and other cermets, as well as
aluminum or magnesium reinforced by strong, high stiffness fibers.
2. Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) are the least common
category. Aluminum oxide and silicon carbide are materials that can
be imbedded with fibers for improved properties, especially in high
temperature applications.
3. Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs). Thermosetting resins are
the most widely used polymers in PMCs. Epoxy and polyester are
commonly mixed with fiber reinforcement, and phenolic is mixed
with powders. Thermoplastic molding compounds are often
reinforced, usually with powders.
 The reinforcing phase
• Fibers are filaments of reinforcing material, generally circular in
cross-section, although alternative shapes are sometimes used
(e.g., tubular, rectangular, hexagonal).
 Continuous fibers are very long; in theory, they offer a continuous path by
which a load can be carried by the composite part. Discontinuous fibers
(chopped sections of continuous fibers) are short lengths.

 Various materials are used as fibers in fiber-reinforced composites:

metals, ceramics, polymers, carbon, and boron.
Important types of fiber materials:
• Glass—The most widely used fiber in polymers, the term fiberglass is
applied to denote glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP)..
• Carbon—Carbon can be made into high-modulus fibers. C-fibers are
generally a combination of graphite and amorphous carbon.
• Boron—Boron has a very high elastic modulus, but its high cost limits
applications to aerospace components in which this property are critical.
• Kevlar 49—This is the most important polymer fiber; it is a highly
crystalline aramid, a member of the polyamide family.
• Ceramics—Silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) are the
main fiber materials among ceramics.
• Metal—Steel filaments, both continuous and discontinuous, are used as
reinforcing fibers in plastics.
• A second common shape of the imbedded phase is particulate, ranging in size
from microscopic to macroscopic. Particles are an important material form for
metals and ceramics.
• Flakes are basically two-dimensional particles—small flat platelets. Two
examples of this shape are the minerals mica (silicate of K and Al) and talc
(Mg3Si4O10(OH)2), used as reinforcing agents in plastics.
Infiltrated Phase The Interface
• The fourth form of imbedded • There is always an interface
phase occurs when the matrix between constituent phases in a
has the form of a porous composite material. Interphase
skeleton (like a sponge), and the is a third ingredient added to
second phase is simply a filler. promote bonding of the two
primary phases.
Metal Matrix Composites
• Metal matrix composites (MMCs) consist of a metal matrix reinforced by a second
phase. Common reinforcing phases include (1) particles of ceramic and (2) fibers of
various materials, including other metals, ceramics, carbon, and boron. MMCs of the
first type are commonly called cermets.
• A cermet is a composite material in which a ceramic is contained in a metallic matrix.
The ceramic often dominates the mixture, sometimes ranging up to 96% by volume.
Cermets can be subdivided into (1) cemented carbides and (2) oxide-based cermets
Ceramic Matrix Composites
• CMCs consist of a ceramic primary phase imbedded with a
secondary phase. To date, most development work has focused on
the use of fibers as the secondary phase.
Polymer Matrix Composites
• A polymer matrix composite (PMC) consists of a polymer primary phase in which a
secondary phase is imbedded in the form of fibers, particles, or flakes.
• A fiber-reinforced polymer is a composite material consisting of a polymer matrix
imbedded with high-strength fibers. The polymer matrix is usually a thermosetting
plastic such as unsaturated polyester or epoxy, but thermoplastic polymers, such as
nylons (polyamides), polycarbonate, polystyrene, and polyvinylchloride, are also used.
In addition, elastomers are also reinforced by fibers for rubber products such as tires
and conveyor belts