10 - Composites

Question 1

Suitability of composite materials (4)

Answer 1

• They have the ability to be moulded into a variety of 3D forms
• Enhancement of physical and/or mechanical properties
• Ease of manufacture for some uses against traditional materials
• Improved product performance

Question 2

Examples of composite materials (7)

Answer 2

• Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP)
• Glass reinforced plastic (GRP)
• Tungsten carbide
• Aluminium composite board
• Concrete, including reinforced concrete
• Fibre cement
• Engineered wood e.g glulam (glued laminated timber)

Question 3

What is glass reinforced plastic (GRP)?

Answer 3

• Is a composite material made of glass fibres mixed with polyester resin
• Commonly referred to as fibreglass

Question 4

Properties of Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) (6)

Answer 4

• Lightweight
• Corrosion resistant
• Tough
• Hard
• Low thermal expansion
• Good compressive strength

Question 5

Uses of Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) (5)

Answer 5

• Boat hulls
• Pond liners
• Kayak shells
• sports car bodies and parts
• Locomotive train cabs

Question 6

What is Tungsten carbide? (3)

Answer 6

• Is an alloy of Tungsten and carbon usually mixed with a binder, commonly cobalt
• Grey in colour
• Some hardness as corrindum or sapphire so to sharpen or cut it you would need to use diamond tools

Question 7

Properties of Tungsten carbide (4)

Answer 7

• Hard
• Tough
• Resistant to high temperatures
• Corrosion resistant

Question 8

Uses of Tungsten carbide (4)

Answer 8

• Cutting tools such as drill bits
• Lathe tool tips
• Router bits
• Kitchen knives

Question 9

What is alminium composite board? (3)

Answer 9

• Feature two thin sheets of aluminium enclosing polyethylene
• Can be used in a huge range of applications
• Lightweight, strong, extremely flat surface that makes it suitable for printing high quality graphics or text

Question 10

Properties of Aluminium composite board (6)

Answer 10

• Lightweight
• Rigid
• Tough
• Malleable
• Good thermal and sound insulation
• Good vibration damping

Question 11

Uses of aluminium composite board (3)

Answer 11

• Sound-proofing panels in cars
• Buildings and boats
• Signage

Question 12

What is concrete (including reinforced concrete)?

Answer 12

Is a composite material in which concrete’s relatively low tensile strength and ductility are concentrated by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength or ductility

Question 13

Properties of reinforced concrete (4)

Answer 13

• High compression and tensile strength
• Consistency across the structure
• Few surface defects
• Fire Resistant

Question 14

Uses of reinforced concrete (4)

Answer 14

• Buildings
• Bridge piles and and bridge spans
• Retaining walls
• Grid floors

Question 15

What is fibre cement? (3)

Answer 15

• Is a composite building and construction material
• Used mainly in roofing and facade products due to its strength and durability
• Commonly used on the side of buildings

Question 16

Properties of fibre cement (4)

Answer 16

• Lighter in weight than reinforced concrete
• Hard
• Tough
• Good at low temperatures and freeze/thaw situations

Question 17

Uses of Fibre cement (3)

Answer 17

• Suspended floors
• Complex geometric shapes
• Pathways

Question 18

Composition of fibre cement

Answer 18

Cement powder, sand, aggregate particles and polymer or steel mixed with water

Question 19

What is Engineered wood?

Answer 19

Includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands particles fibres or Veneers or boards of wood together with Adhesives or other methods of fixation to form composite materials

Question 20

Properties of engineered wood (6)

Answer 20

• Good aesthetics
• Natural alternative to reinforced concretes
• More Lightweight than concrete alternatives
• Fire Resistant
• Good structural stability
• Corrosion proof

Question 21

Uses of engineered wood (7)

Answer 21

• Beams
• Bridges
• Domes
• Arches
• Decking
• Roof beams
• Rafters

Question 22

Composition of engineered wood

Answer 22

Timber limited and MF adhesives

Question 23

Composition of reinforced concrete

Answer 23

cement powder, sand, aggregate particles and low carbon steel rods (rebar) mixed with water

Question 24

Composition of concrete

Answer 24

Cement powder, sand, aggregate particles mixed with water

Question 25

Composition of Tungsten carbide

Answer 25

A cermet (mixture of ceramic and metal particles) ceramic Tungsten and cobalt metal

Question 26

Composition of GRP

Answer 26

Glass diners mixed with polyester resin

Question 27

composition of CFRP

Answer 27

carbon fibres mixed with polyester resin or epoxy resin

Question 28

Properties of CFRP (6)

Answer 28

* Lightweight * Corrosion Resistant * Tough * Hard * Good compressive strength * Low thermal expansion

Question 29

Uses of CFRP (5)

Answer 29

* Sports equipment such as bicycle frames and tennis racquets * Fishing rods * Racing Car bodies and parts * Helmets * Prosthetics

Question 30

Properties of concrete (4)

Answer 30

* High compression strength * Low tensile strength * Few surface defects * Easy to mould * Can be situ or pre fabricated * Very stable material

Question 31

Uses of concrete (5)

Answer 31

* Pathways * Beams * Blocks * Driveways * House foundations

Question 32

What is a composite material?

Answer 32

a material composed of two or more different materials, resulting in a material with enhanced materials

Question 33

Ingredients of concrete (5)

Answer 33

* Course aggregate * Water * Admixture - makes concrete more fluid * Cement * Sand