Abstract:

Composite materials are made from two or more constituentmaterials with significantly different physical or chemical properties whichremain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level within the finishedstructure. A composite is made of a textile reinforcement structure and amatrix material. Textile reinforcement structure can be made of fibers arms orfabrics (woven, braided, knit non wovens) and are generally flexible. Thesestructures are called texture performs. Textile preforms can be in variousshapes and forms. Matrix materials can be thermoplastic or thermoset polymers,ceramic or metal. Textile composites can be flexible or rigid. Maincharacteristics of rigid textile composites are high stiffness, high strengthand low density. Other characteristics include but are not limited to hightemperature resistance, corrosion resistance, harness and conductivitydepending on the product design for a specific application. Textile structuralcomposites have higher strength - to weight ratio than metal composites. Theapplication of traditional textile technology to organize high performancefibers for composite material applications has provided a route to combininghighly tailored materials with enhanced process ability.

Many structural materials including metals have homogeneousand isotropic properties in general in isotropic materials, strength,stiffness, thermal and other properties are equal in all directions and at alllocations. With the use of oriented fibers in bundles or layers, textilecomposites can be made anisotropic so that they exhibit different propertiesalong different axes. Strength, stiffness, thermal and moisture expansioncoefficients can vary by more than ten times in different directions.

ReadFull Article

About the Authors:

Authors areStudents of 2-nd year textile technology, K.S.R College of technology