Particle Reinforced Composites

I. Composites
Composites are any multiphase material that is artificially made and exhibits a significant
proportion of the properties of the constituent phases. The constituent phases of a composite are
usually of macro sized portions, differ in form and chemical composition and essentially
insoluble in each other. Composites are, thus, made by combining two distinct engineering
materials in most cases. Many composite materials are composed of just two phases; one is
termed the matrix, which is continuous and surrounds the other phase, often called the dispersed
phase. The properties of composites are a function of the properties of the constituent phases,
their relative amounts, and the geometry of the dispersed phase. “Dispersed phase geometry” in
this context means the shape of the particles and the particle size, distribution, and orientation
Millions of combinations of materials are possible and thus so number of composite
materials. For ease of recognition, composite materials are classified based on different criteria
such as: (a) type of matrix material and (b) size-and-shape of dispersed phase.

One simple scheme for the classification of composite materials is shown below.
 a. Particle Reinforced Composites

This class of composites is most widely used composites mainly because they are widely
available and cheap. The large-particle and dispersion-strengthened composites are the two
subclassifications of particle-reinforced composites. The distinction between these is based upon
reinforcement or strengthening mechanism.
i. Large Particle Composites or Particulate-reinforced Composites
The term “large” is used to indicate that particle–matrix interactions cannot be treated on
the atomic or molecular level; rather, continuum mechanics is used. For most of these
composites, the particulate phase is harder and stiffer than the matrix. These reinforcing
particles tend to restrain movement of the matrix phase in the vicinity of each particle. In
essence, the matrix transfers some of the applied stress to the particles, which bear a fraction
 of the load. The degree of reinforcement or improvement of mechanical behavior depends
on strong bonding at the matrix–particle interface.
Particulate composites are used with all three material types – metals, polymers and
ceramics
Examples:
1. Cermet contain hard ceramic particles dispersed in a metallic matrix.
2. Some polymeric materials to which fillers have been added are really large-particle
composites. Again, the fillers modify or improve the properties of the material
and/or replace some of the polymer volume with a less expensive material—the
filler.
3. Concrete is most commonly used particulate composite. It consists of cement as
binding medium and finely dispersed particulates of gravel in addition to fine
aggregate (sand) and water. It is also known as Portland cement concrete. Its
strength can be increased by additional reinforcement such as steel rods/mesh.
4. Vulcanized rubber is a material that undergoes a chemical process known as
vulcanization. This process involves mixing natural rubber with additives such as
sulfur and other curatives. Also called reinforced rubber. Obtained by
strengthening with 20-50 nm carbon-black particles. Used in auto tires.
ii. Dispersion-strengthened Composites
For dispersion-strengthened composites, particles are normally much smaller, with
diameters between 0.01 and 0.1 m (10 and 100 nm). Particle–matrix interactions that lead to
strengthening occur on the atomic or molecular level. The mechanism of strengthening is
similar to that for precipitation hardening. Whereas the matrix bears the major portion of an
applied load, the small dispersed particles hinder or impede the motion of dislocations. Thus,
plastic deformation is restricted such that yield and tensile strengths, as well as hardness,
improve.
Examples:
1. Thoria (ThO2) dispersed Ni-alloys (TD Ni-alloys) with high-temperature strength
2. SAP (sintered aluminum powder) – where aluminum matrix is dispersed with
extremely small flakes of alumina (Al2O3).
NOTE: How is this different from precipitation hardening/strengthening?
 In the dispersed strengthening, particles are chosen to be unreactive, because of this,
the strength is retained at elevated temperature for elongated times
 But where as in case of precipitation-hardened alloy, upon temperature rise,
dissolution of precipitation phase occurs, which decreases the strength
 Coherency occur in precipitation hardening/strengthening whereas there is no
coherency when it comes to dispersion strengthening
 Time factor is not important for dispersion strengthening, but it is important for
precipitation strengthening
References:
https://nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/courses/112108150/pdf/Lecture_Notes/MLN_12.pdf
https://in.bgu.ac.il/engn/mater/Documents/LaboratoryBriefings/4/Materials%20Science%20and
%20Engineering%20introduction%20Chapter%2015%20Composites%207th%20ed.pdf
http://iesgeneralstudies.com/chapter-7-composites/#9
https://www.slideshare.net/haseebmuhsin/chatbot-93254184?next_slideshow=1