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Abstract:
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Many composites used today are at the leading edge of materials technology, with performance and costs appropriate to ultra demanding applications such as spacecraft. But heterogeneous materials combining the best aspects of dissimilar constituents have been used by nature for millions of years. Of course, these materials are not generally usable as fibers alone, and typically they are impregnated by a matrix material that acts to transfer loads to the fibers, and also to protect the fibers from abrasion and environmental attack. The matrix dilutes the properties to some degree, but even so very high specific (weight-adjusted) properties are available from these materials. The aim of this project is to find the behavior of the composites, so we can give the data and then, at the time of choosing one type of plastic, can pick the option that best fits for any requirement. The term composite could mean almost anything if taken at face value, since all materials are composed of dissimilar subunits if examined at close enough. But in modern materials engineering, the term usually refers to a "matrix" material that is reinforced with fibers. For instance, the term "FRD" (for Fiber Reinforced Plastic) usually indicates a thermosetting polyester matrix containing glass fibers. |
