Design of Polymer-Based Composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites combine high stiffness and high strength with low density making them a worthy material for lightweight applications. This chapter discusses polymer-based composites, as well as their types, parameters, conventional manufacturing processes, advantages, and disadvantages. Furthermore, the classification of composites and the applications of polymer-based composites are discussed. Fiber-reinforced plastics are similar to composites. A composite material consists of a polymer matrix imbedded with high-strength fibers which are used in applications such as conveyor belts and tires. The main fiber materials used include glass, carbon, and Kevlar. Other common advanced composites used include boron, carbon, and Kevlar as reinforcing fibers with the matrix as an epoxy. Hybrid composites are synthesized when two or more fiber materials are combined in the composite. The two types are intra-ply hybrids, in which alternate strands of different fibers are present in a single layer, and inter-ply hybrid, in which different plies of different fibers are used.