30
2
Composites have engineering advantages over conventional materials, such as metal, wood, and leather. Polymeric composites have
good tensile strength, flexural strength, compressive strength,
impact strength, Young’s modulus, and rigidity coupled with high
dimensional stability. Depleting natural resources and related environmental concerns—specifically in the use of wood—have forced
scientists and engineers to explore more applications for advanced
composites. It can be said that advanced composites have come to a
level where they can replace conventional materials in most engineering applications [1, 2]. Composites have proven themselves to
be the best substitute for conventional materials. The advantages of
polymeric composites and their applications are discussed in detail
in the following sections of this chapter.
2.1 Advantages of Polymeric Composites
The major advantages offered by polymeric composites are in their
performance, cost, and production rate. However, the main advantages polymeric composites are discussed here.
1. High Specific Strength and Modulus—The specific strength and
modulus of any material are its strength-to-weight ratio and
modulus-to-weight ratio, respectively. This is generally
calculated by dividing strength or modulus by the gravity of
the material. The specific strengths and modulus of composites
are much higher than those of metals. Conventional materials,
such as steel, are very strong and heavy. Composite materials
can be designed to be both strong and light in weight. The
property of high specific strength makes composite preferred
materials to build aircrafts that need a very high-strength
material at the lowest possible weight. A composite can be
made to resist bending in one direction by reinforcing it more
at that particular location [3–5]. Whereas in metals, extra
thickness or a new design feature to increase moment of inertia
would be required to improve the bending strength, which will
add weight. Composites can be made strong without being
heavy. Composites have the highest strength-to-weight ratios
in all structural materials available to date [6–9]. Properties of
composites and conventional materials for their specific tensile
strength and tensile modulus are shown in . Fig. 2.1
Composites have high strengths, and they can be designed
to be far stronger than aluminium or steel. In view of the fact
that composites are anisotropic in nature, they have maximum
strength in the direction of the fibre [10–12]. Composites can
be engineered and designed to be strong in a specific direction.
Composites have high stiffness, strength, and toughness and
are often comparable with structural metal alloys (such as steel,
aluminium, etc.), as discussed in 7 Chap. 1. Low densities of
composites are important for energy-efficient systems and platforms, such as automobiles and aircraft [12, 13]. For example, a
bus with a body made out of composites is operating on London
roads, as shown in . Fig. 2.2.
Chapter 2 · Advantages and Applications of Polymeric Composites
2
Composites have engineering advantages over conventional materials, such as metal, wood, and leather. Polymeric composites have
good tensile strength, flexural strength, compressive strength,
impact strength, Young’s modulus, and rigidity coupled with high
dimensional stability. Depleting natural resources and related environmental concerns—specifically in the use of wood—have forced
scientists and engineers to explore more applications for advanced
composites. It can be said that advanced composites have come to a
level where they can replace conventional materials in most engineering applications [1, 2]. Composites have proven themselves to
be the best substitute for conventional materials. The advantages of
polymeric composites and their applications are discussed in detail
in the following sections of this chapter.
2.1 Advantages of Polymeric Composites
The major advantages offered by polymeric composites are in their
performance, cost, and production rate. However, the main advantages polymeric composites are discussed here.
1. High Specific Strength and Modulus—The specific strength and
modulus of any material are its strength-to-weight ratio and
modulus-to-weight ratio, respectively. This is generally
calculated by dividing strength or modulus by the gravity of
the material. The specific strengths and modulus of composites
are much higher than those of metals. Conventional materials,
such as steel, are very strong and heavy. Composite materials
can be designed to be both strong and light in weight. The
property of high specific strength makes composite preferred
materials to build aircrafts that need a very high-strength
material at the lowest possible weight. A composite can be
made to resist bending in one direction by reinforcing it more
at that particular location [3–5]. Whereas in metals, extra
thickness or a new design feature to increase moment of inertia
would be required to improve the bending strength, which will
add weight. Composites can be made strong without being
heavy. Composites have the highest strength-to-weight ratios
in all structural materials available to date [6–9]. Properties of
composites and conventional materials for their specific tensile
strength and tensile modulus are shown in . Fig. 2.1
Composites have high strengths, and they can be designed
to be far stronger than aluminium or steel. In view of the fact
that composites are anisotropic in nature, they have maximum
strength in the direction of the fibre [10–12]. Composites can
be engineered and designed to be strong in a specific direction.
Composites have high stiffness, strength, and toughness and
are often comparable with structural metal alloys (such as steel,
aluminium, etc.), as discussed in 7 Chap. 1. Low densities of
composites are important for energy-efficient systems and platforms, such as automobiles and aircraft [12, 13]. For example, a
bus with a body made out of composites is operating on London
roads, as shown in . Fig. 2.2.
Chapter 2 · Advantages and Applications of Polymeric Composites