Materials selection factors

The discussion of materials selection factors is naturally divided into three parts (1) overall factors pertinent to selection of the composite material itself, (2) factors governing the selection of the fibers, and (3) factors essential to selection of the matrix system. Those three types of selection trade-offs will be described, followed by summary remarks on the process of selecting a suitable composite material. 

The toughness of a material is a design driver in many structures subjected to impact loading. For those materials that must function under a wide range of temperatures, the temperature dependence of the various material properties is often of primary concern. Other structures are subjected to wear or corrosion, so the resistance of a material to those attacks is an important part of the material choice. Thermal and electrical conductivity can be design drivers for some applications, so materials with proper ranges of behavior for those factors must be chosen. Similarly, the acoustical and thermal insulation characteristics of materials often dictate the choice of materials. 

For a space structure of any kind, the main concern will probably be with the coefficients of thermal expansion and the various stiffnesses. Most readers are probably aware from various Space Shuttle problems that the Shuttle gets heated more on one side than the other if it does not keep turning around relative to the sun. During one mission, the payload-bay doors were opened, but could not be closed again. The television commentator said that the doors had expanded and were warped so much that they would not fit back into the opening to be locked 

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The materials selection factors that might be considered are fairly obvious and are displayed in Figure 7-20. These factors are actually the same ones that would be used when choosing a composite material as opposed to a metal. J... 

Aromatic solvents or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAFI) in water, e.g. can be detected by QCM coated with bulk-imprinted polymer layers. Flere, the interaction sites are not confined to the surface of the sensitive material but are distributed within the entire bulk leading to very appreciable sensor responses. Additionally, these materials show high selectivity aromatic solvents e.g. can be distinguished both by the number of methyl groups on the ring (toluene vs. xylene, etc.) and by their respective position. Selectivity factors in this case reach values of up to 100. 

The choice of a turboexpander load may be influenced by the desire to optimize refrigeration. In other words, a dynamometer load may be chosen over a generator load due to speed considerations. Additionally, there are other constraints imposed on optimal design. Factors such as impeller peripheral velocity (tip speed), bearing design, axial load balance, material selection, and manufacturing methods (which have greatly improved in the recent decades) all have an influence. 

The fundamental objective in this section is to describe the factors and procedures to select the right material for a specific structural application. The right stuff for a material, as for a fighter pilot or an astronaut, is a complex combination of characteristics. To select the proper material requires being able to characterize and evaluate various composite materials (or metalsl) and to compare their attractive characteristics with the behavioral features required for a particular structure. Finally, a materials selection example of a space truss design problem will be addressed. 

The selection of a suitable matrix for a composite material involves many factors, and is especially important because the matrix is usually the weak and flexible link in all properties of a two-phase composite material. The matrix selection factors include ability of the matrix to wet the fiber (which affects the fiber-matrix interface strength), ease of processing, resulting laminate quality, and the temperature limit to which the matrix can be subjected. Other performance-related factors include strain-to-failure, environmental resistance, density, and cost. 

Those basic matrix selection factors are used as bases for comparing the four principal types of matrix materials, namely polymers, metals, carbons, and ceramics, listed in Table 7-1. Obviously, no single matrix material is best for all selection factors. However, if high temperatures and other extreme environmental conditions are not an issue, polymer-matrix materials are the most suitable constituents, and that is why so many current applications involve polymer matrices. In fact, those applications are the easiest and most straightforward for composite materials. Ceramic-matrix or carbon-matrix materials must be used in high-temperature applications or under severe environmental conditions. Metal-matrix materials are generally more suitable than polymers for moderately high-temperature applications or for modest environmental conditions other than elevated temperature. 

Although the source of raw materials may not be at the plant site, it is an e.xtremcly important factor in the ultimate location of the plant. Process development work and economic studies will indicate the minimum standards for raw materials selection. When these standards have been determined, all possible sources of acceptable raw materials can be located and a detailed analysis can proceed. 

One of the most effective methods of preventing corrosion is the selection of the proper metal or alloy for a particular corrosive service. Once the conditions of service and environment have been determined that the equipment must withstand, there are several materials available commercially that can be selected to perform an effective service in a compatible environment. Some of the major problems arise from popular misconceptions for example, the use of stainless steel. Stainless steel is not stainless and is not the most corrosion-resistant material. Compatibility of material with service environment is therefore essential. For example, in a hydrogen sulfide environment, high-strength alloys (i.e., yield strength above 90,000 psi or Rc 20 to 22) should be avoided. In material selection some factors that are important to consider are material s physical and chemical properties, economics and availability. 

Materials selection cannot be based on any simple combination of common corrosive species. There are many complicating factors, including the harmful or beneficial effects of contaminants at the ppm level, the relative proportion in which certain combinations of species are present (H+ and CH are often synergistic in their effect, whereas and CH often counter each other) and the... 

Other detrimental factors which should to be taken into account in the materials selection process include temperature cycling and the presence of halide gases. Specialist alloys containing rare earth element additions such as cerium, lanthanum and yttrium have been developed for use in certain environments up to 130°C. 

During the materials selection procedure isothermal corrosion testing may indicate the suitability of a material for handling a corrosive process fluid. In many cases where heat transfer is involved the metal wall temperature experienced in service is higher than the bulk process fluid temperature. This, and the actual heat transfer through the material, must be taken into account since both factors can increase corrosion rates significantly. 

The interaction of a metal or alloy (or a non-metallic material) with its environment is clearly of vital importance in the performance of materials of construction, and the fact that the present work is largely confined to a detailed consideration of such interactions could create the impression that this was the sole factor of importance in materials selection. This, of course, is not the case although it is probably true to say that this factor is the one that is the most neglected by the design engineer. 

Another factor to consider in the early stages of design is material selection in relation to cost per volume rather than by weight. This subject volume vs. weight will be reviewed latter in this chapter entitled Analysis Method. Since the material value in a plastic product is usually over one-half of its overall cost, it becomes important to select a candidate material with extraordinary care. 

The first interactive electronic encyclopedia for users of plastics, materials selection is carried out using 3 search routines. The Chemical Resistance Search eliminates materials that cannot meet user specified chemical resistance requirements. The other search routines ( Elimination and Combined Weighting ) eliminate candidate materials based on 72 properties, falling within one of the following groups General and Electrical, Mechanical, Cost Factors, Production Methods and Post Processing. All data is evaluated and based on independent tests conducted in RAPRA s laboratories. 

H. Corrosion and erosion despite good design and materials selection, some corrosion problems may arise, both internally and externally. The factor to be applied depends on the anticipated corrosion rate. The severest factor is applied if stress corrosion cracking is likely to occur (see Chapter 7 of this book). 

Typically, a catalyst becomes synthetically nsefnl when. k> 10. Indeed, with such levels of selectivity one can isolate a synthetically nsable amonnt of essentially enan-tiomerically pnre nnreacted starting material by driving the reaction past 50% conversion. With a process of high selectivity (e.g.,. y > 50), significant amonnts of highly enantio-merically enriched both nnreacted starting material and prodnct can be isolated at close to 50% conversion. Unfortunately, the selectivity factor is not directly measurable [11]. Its determination is based on measnrements of parameters snch as the conversion (C), the enantiomeric composition of the snbstrate and prodnct (enantiomeric excess, ee, or preferably [12], enantiomeric ratio, er) and the time elapsed (t) [13]. Its determination is also prone to error [14], notably if the enantiomeric pnrity of the catalyst is not absolnte [15-18]. Despite these limitations in this review we have tried to record. y and C valnes as well as eekr values where available. 

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