Fibre Reinforced Composite Materials
Fibre reinforced composite materials are a type of material that is composed of multiple constituent materials. These materials are often found in industry and engineering applications and are used as components in products such as aircraft and automobiles. Fibre reinforced composite materials are composed of two main elements. The first is a polymer matrix which is often referred to as the “matrix” and acts as binder of the product. The second element of a fibre-reinforced composite is the reinforcement material. This reinforcement material is often a type of fibre such as carbon, glass, aramid, or boron.
The use of fibre-reinforced composites provides many benefits for industries that require high strength, durability, and lightweight materials. These benefits are due in large part to the unique and advantageous characteristics of fibre reinforced materials. For instance, fibre reinforced materials often have a high strength-to-weight ratio which means these materials can be highly durable without being overly bulky. The ratio between strength and weight also makes fibre composites more economical than other types of materials. Additionally, fibre-reinforced composites can be designed to have properties and characteristics such as temperature, chemical, and corrosion resistance that makes them well suited for harsh environments and industrial applications.
When designing products with fibre-reinforced composite materials, the goal is to combine both components in a manner that results in desired properties. This process is known as an optimization process and it is critical to ensure the most advantageous properties within the composites. In order to provide the most reliable results, the optimization process must consider a variety of parameters such as the types of fibres used, the orientation of the fibres, and the stresses applied to the composite.
In addition to their advantageous properties, fibre-reinforced composite materials also have some drawbacks. For example, the production of fibre reinforced composite materials can be time consuming and require specialized tools or equipment. The set up of a production facility capable of producing fibre-reinforced composite parts can be expensive. Additionally, the materials used to create composite parts are often difficult to machine, meaning parts must be finished off with labour-intensive methods such as hand-sanding or polishing.
Fibre-reinforced composites are also susceptible to environmental and damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. This damage can be difficult to detect and may only be visible after a period of extended exposure to UV radiation. In addition, these composite materials are susceptible to damage due to thermal cycling, which can cause the fibers to degrade over time. As a result, parts constructed of fibre reinforced composites often require regular maintenance or replacement.
In conclusion, fibre-reinforced composite materials are a type of material that are composed of multiple constituent materials. These materials offer many advantages for industries such as their high strength-to-weight ratio, temperature and chemical resistance, and cost-effectiveness. Despite these advantages, fibre-reinforced composites can also be expensive and time consuming to produce and require regular maintenance and repairs. As a result, these composite materials are best used when their advantages outweigh their drawbacks.
