Chemical and physical properties of carbon-fibre reinforced composites Coursework

Chemical and physical properties of carbon-fibre reinforced composites - Coursework Example These composites are more resistant to fatigue and strain from repeated use in various devices such as aircrafts or car bodies, therefore, reducing maintenance costs and increase lifespan of vehicles (Price, 1997). Examples of composite materials include fibre-reinforced polymer, carbon-fibre-reinforced composites, and ceramic composites among others. Carbon-fibre reinforced composite is the common form of composite used today. These type of composite is made by heating rayon or other types of fibre to extremely high temperatures usually above 2000 degree Celsius in an oxygen deprived environment such as an oven (NASA, 2010). The tremendous heat in combination to lack of oxygen ensures that there is no combustion and that the strands are converted into pure carbon atoms. These strands produced are then spun into a thread and woven into appropriate sheets. The sheets are then hardened by addition of resins to produce a material that is not only strong, but also stiff. Composite materi als consist of materials of stronger materials usually called reinforcement and a weaker material commonly known as a matrix. The reinforcement material provides the rigidity and strength required to support the whole structure while the matrix assists in maintaining orientation and position of the reinforcement (Brent, 2008). Figure 1 shows a simple diagram showing how composition of composites is done. Composite materials are continuously replacing traditional materials like aluminium in construction of vehicle body structural applications.