MFE 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 47: The Home Depot, Kevlar, Pre-Preg
31 Mar 2016
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Processing: that of thermosets and thermoplastics, but with bers. Note: other types of composites that include the following characteristics will not be covered. Processing: typically that of the matrix material with modi cations. Composite materials are used due to their relative high strength to weight ratio. The strength comes from the reinforcement (typically ceramic such as berglass or high strength polymer ber such as kevlar). The matrix is what holds all together and is typically made of polyester or epoxy polymers. When the term composites is used laminar ber reinforced polymer composites is what people are normally thinking about. The lay up process is the most basic method of making composites. First a mold is made (in the gure the mold is concave though convex molds are also used) out of many types of materials including metal, composite, wood, even plaster. Mold release is applied so the part will not stick to the mold.
