Chapter 16: Composite Materials

Pros
electrically, thermally conductive
good strength & ductility
high toughness
magnetic

Pros
electrically, thermally insulating
wear and corrosion resistant
high strength & stiffness
creep resistant
low density

Metals

Bone: A Natural Composite Material

Cons
dense
low creep resistance
low/moderate corrosion resistance

Pros
very ductile
easy to form
very corrosion resistant
high strength-to-weight ratio

Composites
Metal Matrix
Ceramic Matrix
Polymer Matrix

Ceramics

Polymers
Cons
low stiffness & strength
poor high temperature properties

Cons
difficult to form/machine
very low toughness
Chapter 16-1

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

Classifications

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/aplab/

Composition of Mature Bone

Ceramic: ~45 wt% mineral salts (calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate)
Polymer: ~35 wt% organics (collagen protein)
Other: ~20 wt% water
Chapter 16-2

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

Fiber Reinforcements

Matrix Phase: Continuous

How does it work?

Ceramic Matrix Composites Metal Matrix Composites

Polymer Matrix Composite

Improve fracture toughness

Increase stiffness
Improve creep resistance

Improve strength-to-weight
Improve creep resistance

Strong, stiff fibers hold more of applied load

Fibers pull out, absorb energy

woven
fibers

f = fiber
tensile
strength

Stiff fiber
Strains less
Supports matrix

0.5 mm
SiC fibers in vitroceramic, showing
fiber pullout.
From www.onera.fr/dmsc-en/matcer

Zr-Ti-Nb dendritic phase in

bulk metallic glass matrix.
From F. Szeucs, C.P.Kim, and
W. L. Johnson, Acta Mater. 49,
1507 (2001)

Reprinted with permission from

D. Hull and T.W. Clyne, An
Introduction to Composite Materials,
2nd ed., Cambridge University Press,
New York, 1996, Fig. 3.6, p. 47.

Weak Matrix
Strains more
Breaks first

c = interface
strength

Dispersed Phase: Reinforcement

Fiber

Chapter 16-3

Particle

Structural/Layered

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

Factors to consider
Fiber length: discontinuous vs. continous
Loading direction: parallel vs. perpendicular
Orientation: aligned vs. random
Chapter 16-4

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

Fiber Reinforcements: Length

Fiber Reinforcements: Loading Direction

Discontinuous vs. Continuous

fiber tensile strength

critical fiber length, L c > 15

Discontinous (short) fibers: fiber length < Lc

Loading parallel to fibers: Isostrain springs in parallel

fiber diameter

d
2 c

c = fVf + mVm

*
f

interface strength

Ef

Em

(x)

c = f = m

c = f = m
Ec E f Em

Note: valid
for L>Lc

Ec = EfVf + EmVm
*c = *fVf + mVm

Does not maximize load transfer

Continuous Fibers: fiber length > Lc

Loading perpendicular to fibers: Isostress springs in series

c = f = m

(x)

c = fVf + mVm
c f

=
Vf + m Vm
Ec E f
Em

Ef

Em

1 Vf Vm
=
+
E c E f Em
*c = interface tensile strength

Efficient load transfer to fiber

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2002

Fiber Reinforcement: Orientation

Chapter 16-6

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

Particle Reinforcements

Aligned Fibers vs. Random Distribution

As reinforcement L << Lc particles

fracture
surface

view onto plane

Fe3C particles

20 m

Adapted from Fig. 10.10,

Callister 6e. (Fig. 10.10 is
copyright United States
Steel Corporation, 1971.)

spheroidite steel
SiC fibers in glass matrix.
From F.L. Matthews and R.L.
Rawlings, Composite Materials;
Engineering and Science, Reprint
ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL,
2000.

Aligned

Random

Ec = KE f Vf + Em Vm

Aligned parallel, in plane: K = 1 (anisotropic)

Aligned perpendicular, in plane: K=0
Random in plane: K = 3/8 (2D isotropy)
Random 3D: K = 1/5 (3D isotropy)

Chapter 16-7

Values from Table 16.3, Callister 6e.

(Source for Table 16.3 is H. Krenchel,
Fibre Reinforcement, Copenhagen:
Akademisk Forlag, 1964.)

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

350
300
250
200
150

Carbon fibers in carbon matrix.

Adapted from F.L. Matthews and R.L.
Rawlings, Composite Materials;
Engineering and Science, Reprint ed.,
CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2000.

rubber matrix

0.25 m
tire rubber
Chapter 16-8

20

40

60

80

100

Vol% W particles

C particles

efficiency factor:

Upper bound: isostrain

Rule of Mixtures
Ec = EpVp + EmVm

ferrite matrix

C fibers:
very stiff
very strong
C matrix:
less stiff
less strong
fibers lie
in plane

E (GPa)

Chapter 16-5

Adapted from Fig. 16.5,

Callister 6e. (Fig. 16.5 is
courtesy Goodyear Tire
and Rubber Company.)

Lower bound: isostress

1
Vp
Vm

=
+
Ec
Ep
Em
Adapted from Fig. 16.3, Callister 6e. (Fig. 16.3
is from R.H. Krock, ASTM Proc, Vol. 63, 1963.)

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

Layered Reinforcement

Benefits of Composites
CMCs: Increased toughness

Structural/Layered Composites

PMCs: Increased E/
103

Stacked and bonded fiber-reinforced sheets

stacking sequence: e.g., 0/90
benefit: balanced, in-plane stiffness
Sandwich panels
low density, honeycomb core
benefit: small weight, large bending stiffness

particle-reinf
un-reinf

102

Adapted from Fig. 16.17,

Callister 6e. (Fig. 16.17 is
from Engineered Materials
Handbook, Vol. 1, Composites, ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1987.
MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
Fall 2002

MMCs:
Increased
creep
resistance

polymers
1

10

30

Density, (MG/m3)
6061 Al

10-6
10-8
10-10
20

Chapter 16-10

metals

1
0.01
0.1 0.3

Bend displacement

ss (s-1)

honeycomb

PMCs

10

10-4

adhesive layer

ceramics

0.1

face sheet

Chapter 16-9

E(GPa)

Force

fiber-reinf

Adapted from T.G. Nieh, "Creep rupture of

a silicon-carbide reinforced aluminum
composite", Metall. Trans. A Vol. 15(1), pp.
139-146, 1984. Used with permission.

6061 Al
w/SiC
whiskers
50

100

200

(MPa)

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002

Composites Highlights
Composites are classified according to:
the matrix material (CMC, MMC, PMC)
the reinforcement geometry (fibers, particles, layers)

Composites enhance matrix properties:

MMC: enhance y, TS, creep performance

CMC: enhance Kc
PMC: enhance E, y, TS, creep performance
Fiber-reinforced:
Elastic modulus and TS can be estimated along fiber dir.
Properties can be isotropic or anisotropic
Particulate-reinforced:
Elastic modulus can be estimated
Properties are isotropic
Structural:
Based on build-up of sandwiches in layered form
Chapter 16-11

MSE 205: Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Fall 2002