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Polymer Matrix Composites

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Composite Materials

Abstract

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) have established themselves as engineering structural materials, not just as laboratory curiosities or cheap stuff for making chairs and tables. This came about not only because of the introduction of high-performance fibers such as carbon, boron, and aramid but also because of some new and improved matrix materials (see Chap. 3). Nevertheless, glass fiber reinforced polymers represent the largest class of PMCs. Carbon fiber reinforced PMCs are perhaps the most important structural composites; especially in the aerospace field. In this chapter, we discuss polymer composite systems containing glass, aramid, polyethylene, boron, and carbon fibers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Krishan K. Chawla

Authors
  1. Krishan K. Chawla
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krishan K. Chawla .

Problems

Problems

  1. 5.1.

    Why are prepregs so important in polymer matrix composites? What are their advantages? Describe the different types of prepregs.

  2. 5.2.

    Randomly distributed short fibers should result in more or less isotropic properties in an injection molded composite. But this is generally not true. Why? What are the other limitations of injection molding process?

  3. 5.3.

    In a thermally cured PMC, the fiber surface treatments have been well established for certain systems. For example, silanes are used on glass fiber in an epoxy matrix while an oxidizing treatment to carbon fiber for use in an epoxy matrix. What would be the effect of electron beam curing on the interface development in a PMC?

  4. 5.4.

    Describe the major differences in the processing of composites having a thermoset matrix and those having a thermoplastic matrix.

  5. 5.5.

    What are the important factors in regard to fire resistance of PMCs?

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Chawla, K.K. (2012). Polymer Matrix Composites. In: Composite Materials. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-74365-3_5

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