Module 1: Introduction to Composites
  Lecture 4: Matrix Materials
 

 

What are the thermoplastic matrix materials? What are their key features?

The following are the thermoplastic materials:

  1. polypropylene,
  2. polyvinyl chloride,
  3. nylon,
  4. polyurethane,
  5. poly-ether-ether ketone (PEEK),
  6. polyphenylene sulfide (PPS),
  7. polysulpone.

The key features of the thermoplastic matrix materials are:

  1. higher toughness
  2. high volume
  3. low cost processing
  4. The use temperature range is upto 225  .

What are the thermoset matrix materials? What are their key features?

The thermoset matrix materials are:

  1. polyesters,
  2. epoxies,
  3. polyimides

The key features of these materials are given for individual material in the following.

Polyesters

  1. Used extensively with glass fibers
  2. Inexpensive
  3. Light weight
  4. Temperature range upto 100 .
  5. Resistant to environmental exposures

 
Epoxy

  1. Expensive
  2. Better moisture resistance
  3. Lower shrinkage on curing
  4. Use temperature is about 175

Polyimide

  1. Higher use temperature about 300
  2. Difficult to fabricate

What are the problems with the use of polymer matrix materials?

  1. Limited temperature range.
  2. Susceptibility to environmental degradation due to moisture, radiation, atomic oxygen (in space)
  3. Low transverse strength.
  4. High residual stress due to large mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion between fiber and matrix.
  5. Polymer matrix cannot be used near or above the glass transition temperature.