Fibrous composite materials

Naturally, fibers and whiskers are of little use unless they are bonded together to take the form of a structural element that can carry loads. The binder material is usually called a matrix (not to be confused with the mathematical concept of a matrix). The purpose of the matrix is manifold support of the fibers or whiskers, protection of the fibers or whiskers, stress transfer between broken fibers or whiskers, etc. Typically, the matrix is of considerably lower density, stiffness, and strength than the fibers or whiskers. However, the combination of fibers or whiskers and a matrix can have very high strength and stiffness, yet still have low density. Matrix materials can be polymers, metals, ceramics, or carbon. The cost of each matrix escalates in that order as does the temperature resistance. 

---

Fibrous composite materials that consist of fibers in a matrix... 

Laminated composite materials consist of layers of at least two different materials that are bonded together. Lamination is used to combine the best aspects of the constituent layers and bonding material in order to achieve a more useful material. The properties that can be emphasized by lamination are strength, stiffness, low weight, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, beauty or attractiveness, thermal insulation, acoustical insulation, etc. Such claims are best represented by the examples in the following paragraphs in which bimetals, clad metals, laminated glass, plastic-based laminates, and laminated fibrous composite materials are described. 

Also, laminated fiber-reinforced composite materials are obviously both laminated and fibrous composite materials. Thus, any classification system is arbitrary and imperfect. Nevertheless, the system should serve to acquaint the reader with the broad possibilities of composite materials. 

Rauch, H. W., Jr., W. H. Sutton, and L. R. McCreight (1968). Fibers and Fibrous Composite Materials. Academic Press, New York. 

H. Lilholt, Creep of Fibrous Composite Materials, Composites Science and Technology, 22, 277-294 (1985). 

Awerbuch J, Hahn HT. Off-axis fatigue of graphite/epoxy composites. In Fatigue of fibrous composite materials. ASTM STP 723 1981. pp. 243—73. 

Rosenfeld MS, Cause LW. Compression fatigue behaviour of graphite epoxy in the presence of stress raisers. Fatigue of fibrous composite materials ASTMSTP 723. Philadelphia (PA, USA) ASTM 1981. p. 174-96. 

Curtis, P. T. (1989). The fatigue behaviour of fibrous composite materials. Journal of Strain Analysis 24(4) pp. 235-244. 

Davis SA, Patel HM, Mayes EL, Mendelson NH, Franco G, Mann S (1998) Brittle bacteria a biomimetic approach to the formation of fibrous composite materials. Chem Mater 10 2516-2524... 

J. D. Whitcomb, ASTM Symp. on the Fatigue of Fibrous Composite Materials, San Francisco, CA, May 22-23, 1979. 

Fibrous composite materials are different, and it is essential to consider all the aspects of the design (including fabrication) together if an efficient, safe and cost-effective structure or artefact is to be produced. There are several reasons for this of which the designer must be aware ... 

Compute longitudinal strengths for discontinuous and aligned fibrous composite materials. 

Kopyov, I.M., Ovchinsky, A.S. and Bilsagayev, N.K., Computer simulation of various fracture mechanisms in fibrous composite materials- In Fracture of Composite Materials, eds. G.C. Sih and V.P. Tamuzh, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague/Boston/London, 1982, pp.45-52. 

---