Fibre reinforced composites types

Other types of compression moulding and stamp forming used for continuous fibre reinforced composites are illustrated in Fig. 4.73. 

Table 6.9 shows the enhancement ratios for aramid fibres versus glass fibres used in the same composite type. The enhancement ratios are the ratios of a property for an aramid fibre reinforced composite versus the same property for the glass fibre reinforced composite. 

Fibre Bragg grating sensors are a type of optical sensor that has received considerable attention in recent years. They are used for monitoring the structural condition of fibre-reinforced composites, concrete constructions or other construction materials. 

Engineering Sciences Data Unit (ESDU), Elastic buckling of unbalanced laminated fibre-reinforced composite plates (rectangular plates of AsBtDs type, all edges simply-supported under biaxial loading). Item No. 86020, S17, 1987. 

Investigations have shown that it is possible to manufacture all-natural composites using hemp and flax fibres using soy oil resins [14]. The tensile and flexural properties of the resins were shown to be improved by the addition of the fibres as observed for regular thermoset resins. However, this type of composite gave lower values than polymer-natural fibre-reinforced composites. Wollerdorfer and Bader [15] made similar observations for different all-natural composites using soya resins. Researchers [16] have reported studies on the properties of composites from hemp non-woven mats and polyester resin. The authors observed that mechanical properties were found to reach maximum at a fibre loading of 30%. 

A particular type of fibre-reinforced composite is the directionally solidified eutectics in which matrix and reinforcement are made in one single process from one or two different materials. The reinforcement usually has the form of plates or rods and their orientation may be designed and controlled in the solidification process. Only the volume fraction of the reinforcement cannot be designed arbitrarily and is determined by the applied technological processes. 

Carbon fibre-reinforced composites prepared from carbon tows can be used in sensing networks due to their conductivity. Other conductive fibre-based composites can also be used for this type of application. It is essential to understand the deformation mechanism of the reinforcement before adopting such an approach for structural health monitoring. The efficiency and validity of the sensing mechanism can be affected by any anomaly in the deformation mechanism (Wilusz, 2008). 

The thermal properties of fibre-reinforced composites are anisotropic. Expansion in the direction of the fibre is usually very small or negative, but the thermal conductivity of some carbon fibre composites in the fibre direction can be high. Most polymers and several types of fibre are good electrical insulators. Carbon and some ceramic fibres have a much lower resistivity. It is thus possible to use composites for manufacturing radomes as well as for electromagnetic screening materials and systems which absorb radar signals. 

Fibre-reinforced composite manufacture - with all of the major types of reinforcing materials. Used widely in the electronics Industry, structural panelling (often flame retardant applications) and decorative laminates for furniture. 

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