34
2
weather and from harsh chemicals that can corrode metals.
Composites are good choices for storing and handling
chemicals. Outdoors, they stand up to severe weather and
climatic thermal shocks. Windmill blades and yachts are the
testimony of the corrosion resistance of composites. The
longest ever windmill blade has been developed by M/s Vestas
Wind Systems, Denmark. It is made out of glass fibrereinforced composites, as shown in . Fig. 2.4. The blade has a
length of 80 metres, and the swept area of the rotors is
21,124 m 2 . It has been designed for 25 years of lifetime.
A lightweight composite boat weighing 40 kg is shown in
. Fig. 2.5. Its composite hull provides corrosion resistance
from seawater.
7. High-Impact Strength—Composites can be made to absorb
impacts due to the viscoelastic nature of the matrix and high
tenacity of the reinforcing fibres. Because of this property,
composites are used in high-impact-resistant applications in
aircrafts, buildings, and vehicles to protect them from shock
and impact damage. The pliability of the interphase of the
composites makes it more resistant to impact. Very strong
bonds between the fibres and the matrix break at small strains.
Therefore, this relatively weaker bond between the matrix and
the fibres makes the entire structure impact-resistant due to its
capability to yield under stress or strain. The high-impact
resistance also makes the composite shock resistant. A common example of impact resistance is the bullet-resistant
Point to Ponder…
Soft armour panel (SAP) used in
bullet proof jackets is made out
of loosely stacked unidirectional
sheets of UHMWPE fibres. SAP is
capable of stopping bullet fired
from a pistol.
. Fig. 2.4 Composite windmill blade [16]
. Fig. 2.5 Lightweight composite boat [17]
Chapter 2 · Advantages and Applications of Polymeric Composites
2
weather and from harsh chemicals that can corrode metals.
Composites are good choices for storing and handling
chemicals. Outdoors, they stand up to severe weather and
climatic thermal shocks. Windmill blades and yachts are the
testimony of the corrosion resistance of composites. The
longest ever windmill blade has been developed by M/s Vestas
Wind Systems, Denmark. It is made out of glass fibrereinforced composites, as shown in . Fig. 2.4. The blade has a
length of 80 metres, and the swept area of the rotors is
21,124 m 2 . It has been designed for 25 years of lifetime.
A lightweight composite boat weighing 40 kg is shown in
. Fig. 2.5. Its composite hull provides corrosion resistance
from seawater.
7. High-Impact Strength—Composites can be made to absorb
impacts due to the viscoelastic nature of the matrix and high
tenacity of the reinforcing fibres. Because of this property,
composites are used in high-impact-resistant applications in
aircrafts, buildings, and vehicles to protect them from shock
and impact damage. The pliability of the interphase of the
composites makes it more resistant to impact. Very strong
bonds between the fibres and the matrix break at small strains.
Therefore, this relatively weaker bond between the matrix and
the fibres makes the entire structure impact-resistant due to its
capability to yield under stress or strain. The high-impact
resistance also makes the composite shock resistant. A common example of impact resistance is the bullet-resistant
Point to Ponder…
Soft armour panel (SAP) used in
bullet proof jackets is made out
of loosely stacked unidirectional
sheets of UHMWPE fibres. SAP is
capable of stopping bullet fired
from a pistol.
. Fig. 2.4 Composite windmill blade [16]
. Fig. 2.5 Lightweight composite boat [17]
Chapter 2 · Advantages and Applications of Polymeric Composites