Materials –

Polymer
Composites

- Gowri Shankari S
ICT-IOCB
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Materials
 Thematerials available in nature are called
natural materials.
 Example: natural fibres, soil, rocks, trees are
natural materials.
 The materials which are made by man are
called man made materials.
 Example: artificial fibres, plastics, glasses are
man made materials.

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Natural Materials
 Natural materials are derived from the earth and
are either mined or farmed;
 Natural materials are considered authentic – they
age and mature over time and exposure to the
atmosphere.
 They are often considered more traditional, and
characterized by timeless beauty.
 Example - Timber, Stone, Bamboo, Cane, Cork,
Silver, Gold, Leather
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Man made Material

 Man made materials are processed, and can be
made up of a mixture of raw and synthetic
ingredients, which can make them resemble
natural materials;
 Man made materials, historically, have been
prone to the reputation of being cheaper or
lesser quality, however, technology has enabled
the manufacture of quality products with
extensive design applications.
 Examples: Tiles, Brick, Concrete, Metals, Glass,
Plastic, Rubber, Plasterboard, Plywood/ Particle
board, Paper, Paint. GOWRI S ICT-IOCB
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Polymers
 The earliest synthetic polymer was developed in 1906,
called Bakelite.
 The development of modern plastics started in 1920s
using raw material extracted from coal and petroleum
products (Ethylene). Ethylene is called a building block.
 Polymers are long-chain molecules and are formed by
polymerization process, linking and cross linking a
particular building block (monomer, a unit cell).
 The term polymer means many units repeated many
times in a chainlike structure.
 Most monomers are organic materials, atoms are
joined in covalent bonds (electron-sharing) with other
atoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur,
chlorine,….
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Structure of polymers

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Plastics ?
Polymers ? Plastic ?
 Theword plastics is from the Greek word Plastikos,
meaning “able to be shaped and molded”.

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Why Plastics ?

Density GOWRI S ICT-IOCB

Cost
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Classifications:
 Thermoplastic

Re-shapable plastic such as PE, PVC , PP

 Thermoset
Cross-linked polymer that cannot be reshaped
(Epoxides, Polyester)
 Elastomers

Polymers that stretch and then return to their original

form: often thermoset polymers (Tires, Rubber).
 Thermoplastic elastomers
Elastic polymers that can be melted (soles of tennis
shoes). GOWRI S ICT-IOCB
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Popular Plastics – Thermoplastics

Polyethylene (LDPE (low density) and HDPE (high density)
Properties: good chemical and electrical properties, strength depends on
composition
Applications: bottles, garbage cans, housewares, bumpers, toys, luggage
Acetal (Delrin)
Properties: good strength, good stiffness, good resistance to heat,
moisture, abrasion and chemicals

Applications: mechanical components; gears, bearings, valves, rollers,

bushings, housings
ABS
Properties: dimensionally stable, good strength, impact and toughness
properties, good resistance to abrasion and chemicals
Applications: automotive components, helmets, tool handles, appliances,
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boat hulls, luggage, decorative panels
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Popular plastics - Thermoplastics

Polycarbonates
Properties: very versatile and has dimensional stability, good
mechanical and electrical properties, high resistance to impact and
chemicals
Applications: optical lenses, food processing equipments, electrical
components and insulators, medical equipments, windshields, signs,
machine components

Nylons
Properties: good mechanical and abrasion resistance property, self-
lubricating, resistant to most chemicals but it absorbs water, increase in
dimension is undesirable

Applications: mechanical components; gears, bearings, rollers, bushings,

fasteners, guides, zippers, surgical equipments, GOWRI S ICT-IOCB
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Popular plastics - Thermosetting

Epoxies
Properties: good dimensional stability, excellent mechanical and
electrical properties, good resistance to heat and chemicals

Applications: electrical components requiring strength, tools and dies, fiber

reinforced epoxies are used in structural components, tanks, pressure
vessels, rocket motor casing

Phenolic
Properties: good dimensional stability, rigid, high resistance to
heat, water, electricity, and chemicals

Applications: laminated panels, handles, knobs, electrical components;

connectors, insulators
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Popular plastics - Thermosetting

Polyesters (thermosetting, reinforced with glass fibers)
Properties: good mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties, good
resistance to heat and chemicals

Applications: boats, luggage, swimming pools, automotive bodies, chairs

Silicones
Properties: excellent electrical properties over a wide rang of
temperature and humidity, good heat and chemical properties

Applications: electrical components requiring strength at high temp.,

waterproof materials, heat seals

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Composite
 A broad definition of composite is: Two or more chemically
distinct materials which when combined have improved
properties over the individual materials. Composites could
be natural or synthetic.
 Wood is a good example of a natural composite,
combination of cellulose fiber and lignin. The cellulose fiber
provides strength and the lignin is the "glue" that bonds and
stabilizes the fiber.
 Bamboo is a very efficient wood composite structure. The
components are cellulose and lignin, as in all other wood,
however bamboo is hollow. This results in a very light yet stiff
structure. Composite fishing poles and golf club shafts copy
this natural design.
 The ancient Egyptians manufactured composites! Adobe
bricks are a good example. The combination of mud and
straw forms a composite that is stronger than either the mud
or the straw by itself.
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What are Composites?

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HISTORY OF COMPOSITES
 Straw reinforcement mud cited in old testament
_organic fiber – reinforced CMC
 well established by 1950s
 R&D on advanced composites: CCCs, PMCs,
MMCs AND CMCs started 1960s-1970s
 Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers(CFRPs)
became dominant advanced composites in
1970s
 CCCs established for thermal protection around
1970s
 MMCs used in specialty applications -
Automobile engines - Electronics thermal
management GOWRI S ICT-IOCB
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Material Characteristics
Fibers

Matrix materials

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Reinforcements

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Types of Composites
composite

Particle - Fibre –
Structural
Reinforced reinforced

Dispersion - Continuous Discontnuous Sandwich

Large Particle Laminates
Strengthned (Alignment) (Short) Panels

Randomly
Alignment
oreinted

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Particulate composite

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Fibre R-composite

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Structural composite
Laminar Compost Sandwich Panel

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Applicatrions of composite
Materials
 1. In automobile industries (e.g. Steel
&Aluminium body)
 2. Marine applications like shafts, hulls, spars
(for racing boats)
 3. Aeronautical application like components
of rockets, aircrafts (business and military),
missiles etc.
 4. Communication antennae, electronic
circuit boards (e.g. PCB, breadboard)
 5. Safety equipment like ballistic protection
and Air bags of cars.

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Applications of composites

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Fibre – Reinforced Composite

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Carbon – Fibre Reinforced

CFRP’s

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Aramid – Fiber – Reinforced AFRP

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Applications of Polymer composites

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Applications of Polymer composites

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Applications of Polymer
Composite

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Questions ?

Thank You !

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