9.

6: COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Meaning of composite materials
A composite material is structural material formed by combining two or
more original material with different physical properties, to produce a
complex mixture.

Composite materials are made up of high-strength fibres. These fibres

could be from:

a) Glass
b) Graphic
c) Ceramics

These fibres are usually held together by thermosetting plastics. The

fibres provide the support. The surrounding acts to protect the fibres from
breaking.

The most commonly used composite materials:

a) Reinforced concrete
b) Superconductors
c) Fibre optic
d) Fibre glass
e) Photochromic glass

Photograph 1:
used to make train

reinforced glass fibre is

body

Photograph 2:
used to make

photochromic glass is
spectacles

Photograph 3: superconductors are used to make magnets & electronic chips

Photograph 4: fibre glass is used to make car panels

The needs for new materials

Most of the materials used today have their own weakness.
Examples :
a) Iron is a good material to use in the construction industry. However,
iron rusts easily.
b) Metals such as copper and aluminum are conductors of electricity.
However, they also lose electric energy at the same time.

c) Common plastic are long lasting. However, most of them melt or

soften if heated.
New materials are needed today to supply the high demand for the new
industries. New technology needs materials which are:
a) Harder
b) Tougher
c) Last longer
d) Easier and more convenient to use
e) Able to withstand high temperatures and high pressures

Natural composite materials

Wood is made of long fibres or cellulose. These fibres are held together
by another plant polymer called lignin.

a) cellulose fibres are flexible

b) Lignin is brittle and would crack under the weight of the tree
branches.
c) But a combination of cellulose and lignin makes a tree branch strong.
d) Thus, the combination of cellulose and lignin is a natural composite
material.

Some composite materials have the strength and rigidity of steel,

although they are very much lighter.

Table 1: examples of composite materials & their components.

Composite
materials
Reinforced concrete

components
Steel bars
concrete

Properties of
components
stronger
does not
corrode
easily
can support
very heavy
load

Uses
Used in the
construction
industry such as
houses, bridges and
offices

superconductor

Yttrium
oxide
Barium
carbonate
Copper (II)
oxide

Optic fibres
(composite of glass
fibres)

Silica
Sodium
carbonate
Calcium
oxide

Fibres glass

Polyester
resin glass

Photochromic glass

Glass
Silver
chloride /
silver
bromide

Conduct
electricity
without
resistance
when
cooled by
liquid
nitrogen
Can
transmit
electronic
data or
signal,
voice or
image
High tensile
strength
Light,
strong,
tough
Resilient
Inert to
chemicals
Reduce
refraction
of light
Control the
amount of
light passed
through it

Used in
superconductors to
make magnets,
electronic chips and
electric cable

Used in optic fibres

for communication.

a) Sports
equipments
such as
tennis
rackets
b) Boat hulls
c) Model
chairs
d) Car panels
Used to make
spectacles.