12/30/2024

Multi-Fiber Composites

 Group Members

Sarmad Rehman 498561

M. Salman Sajid 494057
Sharjeel Haroon Khan 495685

 Professor
Dr. Muhammad Salman Khan
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Overview
Introduction

Previous Research

Present Research

Future Research

Conclusion
 Introduction
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Multi-fiber composites are materials made by combining different types of fibers, like carbon, glass, or aramid
(Kevlar), into a single material. These fibers are bonded together with a resin to create a stronger, lighter, and more
durable product. The combination of fibers gives the composite material unique properties, making it ideal for use in
industries like aerospace, automotive, and sports equipment.

Electrospinning is the method of using a high voltage power supply to produce ultra small diameter fibers.
Electrospinning process can be used to produce nanofibers from many synthetic and natural polymers. Some of the
attractive properties of the electrospun nanofibers are the small diameter, high porosity and high surface-to-volume
ratio.

https://youtu.be/e21R-knCvDM?si=Hlew9bwN7zr8bYxa
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Introduction
• What exactly are composite materials and what makes them so special ?

A composite is really just any material made from two or more distinct constituent materials. They can be found in
nature; Wood is just one example of a natural composite material.

Composites material are categorized on base on the form of the Dispersed Phase and Matrix Phase

Dispersed Phase : This is a potential reinforced composite but they can also be fiber reinforced either with short or
with continuous fibers.

Matrix Phase : The Matrix material is used to form a mechanical and chemical bond with the elements of dispersed
phase allows loads to be transferred between them.
 Introduction
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Composites are also categorized based on the type of matrix material which can be Polymer, ceramic or even a metal
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Introduction
Probably the most widely used composites materials in engineering application are the fiber reinforced, polymer
matrix composites. This category of composites include Glass Reinforced polymers called GRP or Fiber Glass and
Carbon Fiber reinforced Polymer or CFRP

These composites usually have a epoxy Matrix, which is thermosetting Polymer and Dispersed material is Glass or
carbon Fibers, which make up around 60%
 Introduction
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Simple basis from of fiber reinforcement is unidirectional tape, which has all the fibers running in same direction.

The induvial fibers are grouped together into bundles, which is held together with stitching or using a chemical

binder. In case of carbon fibers these bundle are called tows.

Each tows usually contains anywhere from 3 thousand to 24 Thousand individual fibers.

A typical fiber is 10 times thinner tan a human hair.

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Introduction
Any fiber reinforced material that has fibers all running in the same direction will be highly anisotropy. Its material
properly will be different in different direction, if you apply load along the axis of the fibers, the material will be
much stronger and stiffer than if you apply it perpendicular to the axis, because the load is taken by the stronger
and stiffer fibers. Instead of by matrix. This can be a good thing if you know your material will be loaded mainly in
one direction you can orient the fibers to make it very strong in that particular direction
 Introduction
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In pressure vessels fibers can be aligned mostly in a loop directions. Because the hoop stress is the largest stresses
when the vessel is pressurized. In most cases though you need good strength and stiffens. In several direction at the
same time will be axial stress too, so we also need same reinforcement in the axial direction, either with axial or
helical.
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Introduction
This is why components made from fiber reinforced materials are built up by stacking multiple layers that have
different fiber orientations. Each layer called lamina, or ply and stack is called laminate.
In this laminate the 0-degree layer provides strength and stiffness in the axial direction. The 45-degree layer
provides in the transvers direction. And 45-degree layer provides it in the shear direction.
If enough layers are stacked with the correct orientations the laminate can have a very similar properties in all in plane
directions. This is called “qusai-Isotropic” laminate.
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Introduction
The strength of a fiber, like any material is limited by the presence of defects within its microstructure from which
cracks can form and grow to failure. The larger a fiber is, the more likely it is that it will contain more defects and that
the defects will be larger. This means that if you take two fibers bundle with same cross-sectional area , but different
fiber diameters, the bundle with the smaller fiber will be stronger, not only that but in the bundle of small fibers failure
of a single fiber can occur without hugely increasing the load on the remaining fiber and the smaller the fibers.
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Previous Research
 Previous Research
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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19760024210
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Previous Research
 Methodology : The study aimed to improve the impact resistance of resin matrix composites for gas turbine

engine fan blade applications. The research was divided into three main tasks:

 Material Evaluation:

• Hybrid Materials: Combinations of graphite/glass, boron/glass, and graphite/boron/glass were fabricated

using epoxy and thermoplastic (polysulfone) matrices.

• Super hybrid Materials: These composites included resin matrix layers, metallic foils (e.g., titanium), and

boron/aluminium layers to enhance performance.

 Tests Conducted:

• Static properties were measured.

• Pendulum impact tests were used to study load-bearing ability and damage initiation.

• Ballistic impact tests were performed by striking blade-like specimens with gelatine projectiles to simulate
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• Pendulum impact - "Charpy" loading conditions; unnotched

specimens having
• nominal dimensions of .25 cm thick x 1 cm wide x 5.5 cm
long (thin specimens);
• striker was instrumented to provide load-time trace.

• Blade-like specimens were fabricated to evaluate response

of the materials to impact by a "bird-like" projectile.
• They taken at least two specimens' thicknesses were tested
for each material.
• Different thickness were tested for each material
• All specimen were impacted with a 2.54 cm diameter
gelatine sphere at an angle of incidence of 30° and a
nominal velocity 274 m/sec (900 ft/sec).
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Previous Research
 Results :
 Material Performance:
• Superhybrid Composites: Showed the highest impact resistance, withstanding
severe gelatin impacts without fracturing.
• Boron/Glass/Polysulfone Hybrid: Among unprotected composites, this hybrid
exhibited the highest impact resistance based on visual inspection.
 Ply Configurations:
• Only one configuration (±80°/±15°/0°) showed improved impact resistance.
However, it might lack the necessary torsional stiffness for blade applications.
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Previous Research

T- 300 GRAPHITE/GLASS/EPOXY IMPACTED SPECIMENS

BORON/GLASS/POL YSULFONE : AS GRAPHITE/GLASS EPOXY

(NAS-56A)
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Research Gap
 Optimization of Ply Configurations:
Further studies are required to find ply configurations
that balance impact resistance with torsional stiffness for practical applications.
 Thermoplastic Matrix Potential:

While thermoplastic matrices (e.g., polysulfone) showed

promise, their broader application and long-term durability need further investigation.
 Hybrid Design Flexibility:

Additional research on optimizing hybrid and superhybrid designs

for different operational environments and load conditions is necessary.
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Present Research
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Present Research
 Introduction

 Research focused on Interply and Intraply Hybrid Composites

 “Hybrid Effect in In-Plane Loading of Carbon/Glass Fibre Based Inter- and Intraply Hybrid Composites” by

Ashok Rajpurohit et.al.

 Hybrid Effect or Synergistic effect observed in hybrid composites.

 Can be positive or negative.

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Present Research
Methodology

 Materials: Toray T700SC carbon and

Advantex E-CR glassfibres.

 3 intraply (H1, H2, H3), 2 control and 1

interply (I1) samples prepared.

 Plates manufactured using RTM process

 Stack vacuum sealed to 0.3 bars and

heated to 80 deg C to activate binder.

 Hybrid ratio or Fiber Volume Ratio (FVF)

kept nearly same.

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Present Research
Methodology

 Tensile and Compressive tests performed on Instron universal testing machine with 100 kN load cell.

 Tensile test: 250x25mm specimen, Cross head speed 2mm/min

 Compressive test: 110x10mm specimen, Cross head speed 1mm/min

 Present Research
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 Results
 Ply level hybrids can offer cost savings but may not prove to
be a suitable choice for composites subjected to complex
loading conditions. Interply hybrids, however, slightly
improve failure strain in tension but demonstrate negative
synergy in all other properties; hence, this configuration
should not be chosen for structural applications.
 Present Research
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 Results
 Present Research
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 Research Gap
 Development of low density hybrid composites which have lower densities than their constituents.
 Development and testing of green options for hybrid composites.
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Future Research
 Future research considerations
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• Performance

• Economics

• Ease of Manufacturing & Scalability

• Sustainability

• Environmental & Health Considerations

 Hybrid composite research
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• Hybrid or Multi-Fiber Composites Configurations:

• Synthetic Fiber Hybrid Composites

• Synthetic + Natural Fiber Hybrid Composites

• Natural Fiber Hybrid Composites

 Future research
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 Synthetic fibers
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 Synthetic composites
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Advantages Limitations

Superior Strength & Performance Not Biodegradable

Higher Thermal Stability Higher Power Consumption for Processing

Low Carbon Footprint Negative Impact on Environment

Hydrophobic / Water Resistant Negative Impact on Health especially Respiratory

System
Resistant to Chemical Degradation Abrasive to Processing Equipment
 Natural / Bio fibers
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 Natural / Bio composites
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Advantages Limitations

Recyclable / Naturally Degradable High Moisture Absorption

Minor Health Effects Dimensional Instability

Low Carbon Footprint Flammable

Non-Abrasive to Processing Equipment Low Strength and Thermal Stability

Low Power Consumption for Processing Anisotropic Behavior

Cheap / Economical Microbial / Fungal Degradation

Limited Processing Temperatures

Variability of Properties due to lack of

standardization
 Bio vs synthetic fibers
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• Performance & Strength

• Natural Synthetic

• Ecological Considerations

• Natural Synthetic
 Bio-Fiber Treatment
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• Water Absorption Mitigation

• Use of Chemical Treatment, Coupling Agents, Bio-based Coatings, SiO2

• Biodegradation Mitigation
• Use of Carbon Fibers in the hybrid

• Flammability Mitigation
• Use of Flame retardant fillers, 4A / 13X Xeolite
 Natural + synthetic hybrid composite
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• Properties of Hybrid Composites are intermediate of the constituent fibers

• The Properties are given by following relation:

Phc = Pc1Vc1 + Pc2Vc2 + PcnVcn

where
*Phc is Property of Hybrid Composite
*Pc1 & Vc1 is property & volume fraction of Component / Fiber 1
*Pc2 & Vc2 is property & volume fraction of Component / Fiber 2
*Pn & Vn is property & volume fraction of Component / Fiber n
 Applications of Hybrid Composite
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• Applications of Natural – Natural Hybrid Composites

• Automotive, Railcar & Aircraft Interior Trim Parts
• Sports Equipment
• Bio Leather
• Alternate Material to Plastics

• Applications of Synthetic - Natural Hybrid Composites

• Secondary Stressed Mechanical Components e.g Automotive Bumpers
• Wind Turbine Blades
• Sports Equipment
 Conclusion
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• Initial Phase of Research Centered Around Glass - Boron - Graphite Hybrid

Composites to evaluate the response and properties of Hybrid Composites

• In Second Phase, Research was Focused on Glass - Carbon Hybrid Composites

to achieve the synergized characteristics of Carbon & Glass Fibers in different
configurations.

• The Future Research may steer towards Synthetic – Natural Fiber Composite
Hybrids to mitigate the environmental and sustainability Concerns with little
compromise in strength
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Thank You