COMPOSITE MATERIALS

 Composites are engineered materials,

comprising of metals, ceramics, glasses and
polymers.

 The composites obtained using respective

material exhibits unique properties or
qualities.

 The composites have better characteristic as

compared to those possessed by constituents.

 Sometimes all together new/different

characteristics is observed to be possessed by
composite materials which is not present in
either of its constituents.
 A composite in true sense must show
matrix material surrounding its
reinforcing material, in which the two
phases not only exists but acts together
so as to produce desired characteristics.

 Examples: Wood contains cellulose chain

polymers in matrix of lignin, is example
of natural composite.

 Synthetic composites such as rain proof

cloths (cloth impregnated with
waterproof materials) and Reinforced
concrete, Insulated tape.
 Defn_ A multiphase product made by using
two or more existing materials which exhibits
properties of its constituents as well as shows
certain unique properties of its own.

 For Aerospace engineering materials with

certain specific properties are required, Such
material should have properties: Low density,
high stiffness, high strength, High resistance to
abrasion.

 All above mentioned properties are

contradictory to each other like to have high
strength, density has to be high, but by
combination of low density materials with high
strength material this is possible.

 Thus two essential constituents of composites
are
 a) The Matrix phase, b) Dispersed phase

 The matrix phase: It is the continuous body
constituent, which encloses the composite and
gives it its bulk form.
 Matrix phase may be metal, ceramics or
polymer. When composites are prepared by
using these matrix are known as metal matrix
composites (MMC), ceramic matrix composites
(CMC) and polymer matrix composites (PMC)
respectively.
 Polymer matrix materials used in composites
are epoxy, polyamide (nylons), phenolics &
silicons.
 Properties of Matrix phase:
 The good matrix phase should be ductile and
corrosion resistant.
 It should get bonded to fibre (dispersed
phase) very strongly.
 Elastic modulus of the matrix should be
much lower than that of the dispersed phase.
 Since some ductility is essential, only
metals and polymers are used as the matrix
materials. Metals like Al & Cu, commercial
thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers
are generally used as the matrix materials.
 Functions of matrix phase:

 i) It binds the dispersed phase together.

 ii) It acts as a medium by which an
externally applied stress is transmitted and
distributed to the dispersed phase.
 iii) It prevents propagation of brittle
cracks.
 iv) It protects the dispersed phase from
surface damage due to mechanical abrasion
or chemical reactions with the environment
and keeps in proper position and orientation
during the application of loads.
 Dispersed phase:
 It is the structural constituent, which
determines the internal structure of
composite. The important dispersed
phases of composites are,
 A) Fiber and B) Particulates

 A) Fiber: It is a long and thin filament of

any polymer, metal or ceramic having high
length to diameter ratio. Its diameter nears
crystal size diameter. If matrix is
unidirectional, then the resulting composite
is anisotropic.
 Characteristics of Fiber:

 i) The length to diameter ratio is very high

(High aspect ratio).
 ii) It has high tensile strength.
 iii) It causes lowering of overall density of
composite.
 iv) It has very high stiffness.

 Types
 Glass fiber, Carbon fibers and Aramid fibers.

 B) Particulate
 They are small pieces of hard solid metallic or
nonmetallic material. The particles are randomly
distributed in a given matrix, thereby resulting in
isotropic composite.

 The advantages of adding particulates to matrix

materials,
 i) Its surface hardness is increased.
 ii) Performance at elevated temperature is
improved.
 iii) Abrasion elevated resistance is improved.
 iv) Shrinkage and friction is reduced.
 v) Cost of composite is reduced.
 vi) Its strength is increased.
 vii) Its thermal and electrical conductivities are
modified.

 Composites

Particle- reinforced Fibre-reinforced Structural

Large Dispersion Sandwitch

Laminates
particle Strengthened
panels

Continuous Discontinuous
(long) aligned (Short)

Aligned Randomly
oriented
 Particle re-inforced composites
 These composites are made by
dispersing particles of varying size and
shape of one material in a matrix of
another material.
 There are two types of Particle-reinforced
composites.
 A) Large particle composites
 B) Dispersion strengthened composites

 The difference between these is based
upon reinforcement or strengthening
mechanism.
Large particle composites
 In this type of composite particulate
phase should have following
characteristics:
 Stiffer and harder as compared to
matrix phase.
 It acts as reinforcing material.
 It restrains the movement of matrix
surrounding itself.
 The bond strength between two phase
governs the mechanical properties of
composites
Material Matrix Particulate Properties
phase phase
Concrete Cement Sand & R.C.C is harder than
Gravels ordinary cement
Sets well on
surface.
Cermets Cr Al2O3 Good strength, very
Oxide based good thermal shock
resistance
Co or Ni WC Very hard, Very
TiC high surface
Carbide based hardness
Co or Ni CrC High abrasion and
corrosion resistance
Dispersion strengthened
composite

In this type of composite particle size is smaller

(10 to 100 nm)
The metal and alloys are made into extremely
small particle size in the given range and are
dispersed in the matrix phase.
This is achieved by appropriate heat treatment.
The process is called as precipitation hardening
or age hardening.
Alloys such as Cu-Sn, Mg-Al are hardened and
made into composite material by ceramics.
 Fibre Reinforced Composites
 These are the composite materials made up
of
 a) A Polymer matrix,
 b) A Filament,
 c) A bonding agent.
 Commonly used fibers are glass and
metallic.
 Properties of FRC
i) High tensile strength
ii) High specific gravity
iii) High elastic module
iv) High stiffness
v) They possess lower overall density.
 Structural composites or
layered composite
 This type of composites are of two types:
i) Laminar composites : e.g. Plywood
ii) Sandwich panel : Honeycomb core
Laminar Composites:
i) It consists of panels or sheets which are
two dimensional. These panels possess
preferred direction to achieve high
strength.
eg. Plywood in which wood & continuous
aligned fibres reinforced plastics are in
preferred direction.
Fibre reinforced layers for
laminar composites
ii) such successively oriented layers are
arranged one above other with preferred
direction. This ensures high strength with
each successive layer.
iii) Plywood is laminated composites
containing thin layer of woods where layers
are alternatively glued together. This type
of layering brings grain of each layer at
right angles of its neighbouring layer.
iv) Use of fabric material such as cotton,
paper or glass fibres dispersed in suitable
plastic matrix is also in practice to make
laminar composite.
Properties:
Properties of these composites depends on
i) The properties of its constituents.
ii) The geometrical design.
Such composites are
i) Strong in both direction of reinforcement.
ii) Low shear strength.
Applications: i) Interior in premises
ii) False ceilings for diffused lighting
iii) Furniture making
 Sandwich panel
 Sandwich panels are designed to be light- weight beams or
panels having relatively high stiffness and strengths.
 A sandwich panel consists of two outer sheets or faces that
are separated by and adhesively bonded to a thicker core.
 Faces are made of a relatively stiff and strong material,
typically aluminium alloys, fiber-reinforced plastics, titanium,
steel or plywood.

Functions:
i) They impart high stiffness and strength to the structure.
ii) They must be thick enough to withstand tensile and
compressive stresses that result from loading.
The core material is light-weight has a low modulus of
elasticity. Typical “core” materials include synthetic rubbers,
formed polymers, balsa wood and inorganic cements.
 Core serves the following structural functions:
i) It separates the “faces” and provides continuous support for the
faces.
ii) They resist any deformations perpendicular to the face plane.
iii) It provides a certain degree of shear rigidity along planes which
are perpendicular to the “faces”.

Core consists of a “honeycomb” structure thin foils that have been

formed into interlocking hexagonal cells, with axes oriented
perpendicular to the face plane.
The honeycomb material is normally either an aluminium alloy or
aramid polymer. Strength and stiffness of honeycomb structures
depend on cell size, cell wall thickness, and the material from which
the honeycomb is made.
Schematic diagram showing
construction of honeycomb
core sandwich panel
Schematic diagram showing cross section of a sandwich
panel

Properties of sandwich panel:
i) Excellent dimensional stability.
ii) Resistant to abrasion and corrosion.
iii) High tensile strength.
iv) Low density.
v) High elasticity module.
 Application of sandwich
panel
Sandwich panels are used in a wide variety of
applications including roofs, floors, and walls of
buildings; and in aero planes and aircraft (i.e. for
wings, fuselage and tail-plane skins.)
Application of composite materials
 The composite materials find variety
of application in all those areas where
high mechanical strength, thermal
stability, corrosion resistance,
abrasion resistance etc are desirable.
They find application in following
industries:
 Construction
 Electrical & EXTC
 Transportation
 Agriculture
 Aviation industries
 Automobiles
 Sports goods
 Mobiles
Nanomaterials
 Properties of
nanomaterials
1. Surface-to-Volume Ratio: They have a high
surface area compared to their volume, making
them highly reactive and useful for catalysis.
2. Melting Point: Nanomaterials often have lower
melting points due to their size, which can be
advantageous in specific applications.
3. These materials are wear resistant, corrosion
resistant and chemically very reactive.
4. These materials are exceptionally strong, hard &
ductile at high temperatures.
5. The inert materials becomes catalysts e.g. Pt
6. The opaque substance becomes transparent. e.g.
Cu
7. Insulators becomes conductors e.g. Si
Types of
Nanomaterials
a)Nanoclusters

b)Nanorods

c)Nanotubes

d)Nanowires
 Nanoclusters
Nanoclusters are atomically precise, crystalline materials most often existing on
the 0-2 nanometer scale.

They are often considered kinetically stable intermediates that form during the
synthesis of comparatively larger materials such as semiconductor and metallic
nanocrystals.

These nanoclusters can be composed either of a single or of multiple elements,

and exhibit interesting electronic, optical, and chemical properties compared to
their larger counterparts

Particles in this sub-2-nm size regime show unique physical and

chemical (or physicochemical) properties, such as strong fluorescence,
quantized charging, discrete redox behavior, molecular magnetism, and
optical chirality.
Nanorods

Nanorods
In nanotechnology, nanorods are one
morphology of nanoscale objects.
Each of their dimensions range from
1–100 nm.

They may be synthesized from

metals or semiconducting materials.
Standard aspect ratios (length
divided by width) are 3-5.

Nanorods are produced by

direct chemical synthesis.

A combination of ligands act as

shape control agents and bond to
different facets of the nanorod with
different strengths.

This allows different faces of the

nanorod to grow at different rates,
producing an elongated object.
Nanowire
A nanowire is a nanostructure, with the
diameter of the order of a nanometer
(10−9 meters).

It can also be defined as the ratio of

the length to width being greater than
1000.

Alternatively, nanowires can be

defined as structures that have a
thickness or diameter constrained to
tens of nanometers or less and an
unconstrained length.

At these scales, quantum mechanical

effects are important — which coined
the term "quantum wires". Many
different types of nanowires exist,
including superconducting (e.g. YBCO),
metallic (e.g. Ni, Pt, Au
Nanotubes
Generally nanotubes are mainly made of carbon.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a
cylindrical nanostructure.

These cylindrical carbon molecules have unusual properties,

which are valuable for nanotechnology, electronics, optics
and other fields of materials science and technology.

Owing to the material's exceptional strength and stiffness,

nanotubes have been constructed with length-to-diameter
ratio of up to 132,000,000:1, significantly larger than for any
other material.
Nanomaterial Synthesis
Precipitation MethodThree major Steps: i) chemical reaction, ii) nucleation and
iii) crystal growth.
Step 1:-Preparation of Precursor Solutions:
• Dissolution of Precursor material in a suitable solvent.
•The choice of precursor and solvent depends on the desired nanomaterial
composition and properties.
•The precursor may be a salt, a metal organic compound, or a combination
of reactants.

Step 2:- Precipitation:

• controlled addition of a precipitating agent to the precursor solution.
•Common precipitating agents include acids, bases, salts, or complexing
agents.
•The addition of the precipitating agent triggers the nucleation and growth
of the nanomaterial.

Step 3:- Nucleation and Growth:

•Once the precipitating agent is added, nucleation occurs, leading to the
formation of small clusters or nuclei of the desired nanomaterial.
•It is influenced by factors such as temperature, concentration, and reaction
kinetics.
•After nucleation, the nuclei grow in size through the continued supply of
precursor species from the solution.
Step 4:- Isolation and Purification:
• Nanoparticle separation using techniques such as centrifugation, filtration,
or sedimentation.
•These techniques allow for the isolation of the nanomaterial from the
solvent and any remaining reactants or by-products.
•The isolated nanomaterial is then washed and purified to remove any
residual impurities or solvent traces.

addition of a Nucleation
precursor precipitating and
solutions agent to the Growth
are precursor
prepared solution. Isolation
and
Purification:

Characterization and Application:

•by microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction methods.

•These characterizations help verify the desired properties and quality of

the synthesized nanomaterial.

•The synthesized nanomaterial can then be used for various applications

based on its specific properties, such as catalysis, sensing, energy
storage, or electronic devices.
Thermolysis Method
Thermolysis is a method commonly used for the synthesis of various types
of nanomaterials.

Decomposition of precursor compounds at elevated temperatures to form

nanoscale particles.

Used to synthesize nanoparticles, nanocrystals, and nanowires.

Step 1:- Selection of Precursor:

Suitable precursor compound that can decompose thermally to form the
desired nanomaterial.
The precursor can be an organometallic compound, metal salts, metal
complexes, or other suitable compounds.
The choice of precursor depends on the desired composition and properties
of the nanomaterial.
Step 2:- Solvent Selection:
Choose an appropriate solvent or medium for the thermolysis process.
The solvent should be compatible with the precursor compound and allow
for the dissolution or dispersion of the precursor.
It should also have a high boiling point or good thermal stability to
withstand the elevated temperatures used during thermolysis.
Step 3:- Heating and Decomposition:
Heat the precursor solution or dispersion at several hundred to a few
thousand degrees Celsius temp.
This temp. is above the decomposition temp. of the precursor compound.
The precursor undergoes thermal decomposition, leading to the formation
of intermediate species or atoms that further aggregate to form nanoscale
particles.

Step 4:- Nucleation and Growth:

Nucleation involves the formation of small clusters or nuclei from the
decomposed precursor species.
These nuclei then grow in size through the addition of more precursor
species or atoms, resulting in the formation of nanoscale particles.
The growth mechanism can be controlled by adjusting the reaction
parameters, such as temperature, precursor concentration, and reaction
time.
Step 5:- Cooling and Stabilization:
Once the desired nanomaterial has formed, the reaction is cooled down to
room temperature to halt further growth or aggregation.
Rapid cooling or quenching can help preserve the size and morphology of
the nanomaterials.
 Hydrothermal Synthesis Method

Hydrothermal synthesis is a widely used method for the synthesis

of nanomaterials under high-pressure and high-temperature
conditions in an aqueous environment.

It involves the reaction of precursor compounds in a closed

system, typically a hydrothermal autoclave.

The hydrothermal method allows for the controlled growth and

formation of various nanomaterials with specific sizes, shapes,
and properties.
Step 1:- Selection of Precursor:
Choose suitable precursor compounds that
can react under hydrothermal conditions to
form the desired nanomaterial.
These precursors can be metal salts, metal
oxides, or other compounds that are soluble
or can undergo hydrolysis in water.
Step 2:- Precursor Dissolution:
Dissolve the selected precursors in a
suitable solvent, typically water, to prepare a
precursor solution.
The concentration of the precursor can vary
depending on the desired nanomaterial
properties.
Step 3:-Reaction Vessel Preparation:
Transfer the precursor solution to a
hydrothermal autoclave, which is a sealed
container capable of withstanding high
pressure and temperature.
The autoclave is typically made of materials
such as stainless steel or Teflon to ensure
chemical compatibility and safety.
Step 4;- Sealing and Heating:
Sealing of hydrothermal autoclave and then heating from 100 to 300°C.
The reaction temperature and duration are crucial for controlling the
growth and formation of nanomaterials.

Step 5:- Reaction and Nucleation:

As the hydrothermal reaction progresses, the precursors undergo
hydrolysis, nucleation, and subsequent growth of nanomaterials.

The high-pressure and high-temperature conditions favour the formation

of homogeneous nucleation sites and controlled growth of nanocrystals
or nanoparticles.
Step 6:- Cooling and Isolation

•After the desired reaction time, autoclave is cooled to room

temperature.
•The cooling rate can influence the final size and morphology of
nanomaterials.
•Cooling followed by filtration or centrifugation and washing with a
Conducting polymers:
Conducting polymers represent a group of specialty polymers which are
electrically conductive or can be made conductive by doping with an electron
donor or acceptor.

They have an extended p- orbital system through which electrons can move
from one end of the polymer to the other. The most common examples are
Polyacetylene, Polyaniline etc.

There are following type of conducting polymers

1.Intrinsically conducting polymers (ICP)
2.Doped conducting polymers (DCP)
3.Extrinsically conducting polymers (ECP)
4.Co-ordination conducting polymers (CCP)

Applications of Conducting Polymers

1) Rechargeable batteries
2) Antistatic coatings
3) Solar cells
4) Photovoltaic cells
5) Sensors
6) Transistors
7) Optical fibres.
Sol-Gel Method

 Step 1:- Preparation of Sol:

 Step 2:- Hydrolysis:
 Step 3:- Gelation:
 Step 4:- Aging and Drying:
 Step 5:-Heat Treatment or
Calcination:
COMPOSITE
MATERIAL
composite materials

 Definition of composite materials:

 Is Considered to be any multiphase materials that
exhibit a significant proportion of the properties of
both constituent phases such that a better
combination of properties is realized.
Characteristics properties
of composite materials
1. Can be fabricated easily and economically.
2. Maintain strength even at high temperature.
3.Better toughness, thermal shock resistance .
4.Lower specific gravity, electrical conductivity
and thermal expansion.
5. Higher strenght and stiffeness.
Classification of composite materials
 Many composite materials are composed of just two phases
one phase is matrix and the other is dispersed phase.
 Matrix
 The phase in a composite or two-phase alloy microstructure
that is continuous or completely surrounds the other (or
dispersed) phase.
 Purpose is to:
 Transfer stress to other phases, and protect phases from
environment
 Classification :MMC, CMC, PMC
 Dispersed phase:
 For composites and some two-phase alloys, the discontinuous
phase that is surrounded by the matrix phase.
 Purpose: enhance matrix properties.
Fiber Reinforced
Composite
Discontinuous fiber
composites
Structural composite:
Sandwich Panels:

Laminar Composites and Sandwich

Panels.
 Laminar Composites

 Sandwich Panels:
 Functions :
 They impart high stiffness and strength to the structure.
 They must be thick enough to withstand tensile and compressive
stresses that result from loading.
 Application of composite materials-
 Used in automobile industries
 Used in pump parts
 Used in turbine engines
 Used in high speed machinery
 Fabrication of roofs & floors
 Used in electronic circuit boards
Nano
Materials(’Nano’’represents1
0-9)
 Nanotubes

• Nanowires

Method of Preparation
1. Precipitation Method

2. Thermolysis Method

3. Hydrothermal Synthesis Method

 Electrodeposition Method

 Sol-Gel Method
Application of other
Engineering Material
 Conducting polymers,
Engineering Plastics
 There are following type of conducting polymers
 Intrinsically conducting polymers (ICP)
 Doped conducting polymers (DCP)
 Extrinsically conducting polymers (ECP)
 Co-ordination conducting polymers (CCP)
 Application
 Rechargeable batteries
 Antistatic coatings
 Solar cells
 Photovoltaic cells
 Sensors
 Transistors
 Optical fibres.
 Definition of composite materials:
 Is Considered to be any multiphase materials that
exhibit a significant proportion of the properties of
both constituent phases such that a better
combination of properties is realized.