Applications of Polymer/Carbon Fiber Composites - Assignment Example

Applications of Polymer/Carbon Fiber Composites Introduction Fiber composites are formed by combining multiple organic or inorganic constituents having different physical and chemical properties. One constituent serves as a matrix that grasps the whole thing together, while the other constituent acts as reinforcement in the shape of fibers entrenched in the matrix. Since polymer and carbon fiber composites have low density, high tensile strength and low thermal expansion, thus their application is very effective in military, sporting goods, commercial or civilian aerospace and civil engineering. These are widely used in applications which require higher strength and stiffness with lower weight at the same time. These are always recommended to use in places where there is high temperature and damping with the occurrence of chemical inertness (Rahavendra et al 2004). However, despite their great usage, they have the disadvantage of absorbing moisture and it becomes difficult to examine the composites for faults. They also tend to be costly because they often need heavy and complex fabrication machinery. 2. Applications of Polymer/Carbon Fiber Composites Here, we describe some applications of polymer and carbon fiber composites such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastic or carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) or graphite-reinforced polymer, carbon-fiber-reinforced concrete, and polymer matrix composites (PMC). 2.1. Aerospace Aeronautical engineers find it important to reduce the weight of aircrafts because heavy aircrafts tend to consume more fuel. The development of composites has solved this problem and has greatly helped in building large spaceplanes like the Space Shuttle and high-speed forward-swept-wing airplanes like Grummans experimental X-29 (see Figure 1) or the Russian Sukhoi S-27 Berkut (U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission 2009). Composite materials keep the wings of the airplanes from bending. According to U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission (2009), Boeing 777 uses composites that are nearly ten percent of its total structural weight and, similarly, F-22 uses composites which comprise nearly a third of its total structure (see Figure 2). U.S. fighter jets also use composites in their structures. PMC and carbon-fiber composites like CFRP are greatly in use by military aviation but commercial aircraft designers are also using carbon fiber nowadays. Carbon fiber composites are also being used in primary and secondary structures of commuter and business aircraft because of the weight savings (Hexcel 2009). Since carbon fiber composites have properties like thermal and electrical insulating and fire resistance, they are greatly being used in the fabrication of interior paneling systems, wing-to-body fairing and flight control panels. 2.2. Automobile Carbon fiber composites are greatly used to design automobiles in order to meet the mileage goal of U.S. Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). Like aircrafts, the heavier the vehicle, the more the fuel consumption. Thus, carbon fiber composites are used to reduce the vehicle’s overall weight. But again, the problem lies with the high cost of these composites and also with the slow production. However, efforts are being made in efficient manufacturing of carbon fiber composites for their use in the automobile industry. Carbon fiber composites are considered as the “automotive engineers’ dream material” as they are lightweight, rigid, tough, firm and conformable to practically every shape (Brosius 2003). Polymer fiber composites are largely being used in Europe for the manufacture of interior parts like door panels, package trays, seat backs and dashboards. 2.3. Sporting Goods  Advanced composites with carbon fiber reinforcement like carbon fiber-reinforced polymer are used for the manufacture of sporting goods like fishing rods, golf shafts (see Figure 3), tennis rackets, hockey sticks, softball bats, skis, snowboards and bicycles. According to the staff of CompositesWorld (2008), “the companies that produce advanced composite products in these categories have provided more than 49 million lb (22,220 metric tonnes) of goods to the world market during 2006 and 2007”. Carbon fiber composites like CFRP occupy a large percentage of the total composites used in the manufacture of sporting goods. 2.4. Industrial Use Carbon fiber composites are being used in numerous industrial applications and, at the same time, CFRP is also in great demand in industrial market. They are used in industrial manufacturing of boats, windmills, pressure vessels, tanks, computer chassis, thermal radiators, wind generator blades, energy wind blades, batteries, offshore oil exploration, cell phone casings, so on and so forth. When carbon fibers are added to resins, this reduces the weight or thickness of the plastic parts of the equipment. Carbon fiber composites are also used in electric floor heating system 2.6. Civil Engineering Carbon fibers, being lightweight and stiff, are extensively used in buildings and civil engineering. They are used to repair, maintain and reinforce bridges, bridge piers (see Fig. 4), decks and highways (Mertz 2003: 19). Carbon fiber sheets are used to cover the bridges and other concrete structures. This enhances the durability of the structure and also provides against environmental hazards such as earthquakes. On the other hand, CFRP and fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) are widely being used in structural engineering. CFRP and carbon fiber-reinforced concrete are being used as very important structural materials in the construction of bridges. It replaces steel frames and thus reduces the overall weight of the structure. 2.7. Medical Equipment Carbon and polymer fiber composites are widely used in the manufacture of medical equipment. CFRP is used in x-ray and surgical equipments like artificial legs. Since it is light in weight, it is extensively used in the manufacture of wheel chairs, seat warmers and stretchers. Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic is used in puncture needles. According to Baidya et al (2001), “fiber reinforced polymer composite materials have been proposed to replace metallic alloys in certain medical devices because of their radiolucency, light weight, and tailorable mechanical properties”. 2.8. Marine Applications Carbon and polymer fiber composites like CFRP and PMC are extensively used in marine applications. Since these are light, stiff and strong, these are used in designing dinghies, yachts, sail boats, canoes, athletic rowing boats and sail masts. CFRP is a basic constituent of masts and sail headboard. 3. Conclusion Putting it all together, the main reason for carbon and polymer fiber composites being used so widely is that these are lightweight, have high tensile strength, are corrosion resistant and do not undergo electrolysis. Thus, they give the manufacturers flexibility to build any shape with reduced weight. These composites are widely being used in numerous fields and are given preference over other metals and alloys thanks to their properties. Efforts are being made to reduce the cost involved as the use of carbon/polymer fiber composites is relatively expensive. Figure 1: Composites in Grumman X-29 experimental plane’s wings (U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission 2009) Figure 2: Composites in the structure of Lockheed F-22 (U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission 2009) Figure 3: Composites in golf clubs (The Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Association 2009) Figure 4: Composites in bridge pier reinforcement (The Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Association 2009) References Baidya, K, Ramakrishna, S, Rahman, M & Ritchie, A 2001, ‘Quantitative radiographic analysis of fiber reinforced polymer composites’, Journal of Biomaterials Applications, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 279-289. Brosius, D 2003, ‘Carbon composites for sports cars and mass market cars’, CompositesWorld, viewed 24 December 2009, Composites in bridge pier reinforcement 2009, digital photograph, The Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Association, viewed 25 December 2009, Composites in golf clubs 2009, digital photograph, The Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Association, viewed 25 December 2009, Composites in Grumman X-29 experimental plane’s wings 2009, digital photograph, U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, viewed 25 December 2009, Composites in the structure of Lockheed F-22 2009, digital photograph, U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, viewed 25 December 2009, Hexcel 2009, ‘HexTow carbon fibers’, Commercial Aerospace, viewed 24 December 2009, Mertz, D 2003, Application of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites to the Highway Iinfrastructure, Transportation Research Board, United States. Raghavendra, RH, Dahiya, A, Kamath, MG, Kannadaguli, M & Rong, H 2004, Carbon Fibers, viewed 24 December 2009, Staff 2008, ‘Market outlook: carbon fiber in sporting goods’, CompositesWorld, viewed 24 December 2009, U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission 2009, Composites and Advanced Materials, viewed 24 December 2009, Read More