IntroductiontoComposite

Introduction to Composite
MaterialsandStructures
NachiketaTiwari
Nachiketa Tiwari
IndianInstituteofTechnologyKanpur
 Lecture8
Thermoset MatrixMaterials
Thermoset:Polyesters
y
Polyesters,andepoxiesareverypopularasthermoset matrixmaterials.
Oth th
Otherthermoset t materialsusedformatrixapplicationsarevinylesters,
t i l df ti li ti i l t
polyimides,andphenolics.

Polyesters:Polyestermatrixmaterialisproducedbycuringapolyester
resinusingacuringagent.Polyesterresincomesinsolidform.Itis
essentially unsaturated polyester The structure of unsaturated polymer
essentiallyunsaturatedpolyester.Thestructureofunsaturatedpolymer
constitutesofmutuallydisconnectedlongchainsoflinearpolymers.

Theselongpolymericchainshaveaseriesofunsaturatedbonds,occurring
periodicallyalongtheirlength.Itisattheselocations,thatcrosslinking
can occur.
canoccur.

Thisisaccomplishedbyprovidingforreactiveandpolymerizable
monomerssuchasstyreneattheseunsaturatedbondlocations.
Thermosets:Polyesters
y
Towardsthisend,polyesterresinisdissolvedinstyrene.Thismonomer
(styrene) acts as a cross linking agent between long linear polymeric
(styrene)actsasacrosslinkingagentbetweenlonglinearpolymeric
chainsofpolyester.Further,itreducesviscosityofthepolyester,thereby
helpingtheprocessing.

However,thecrosslinkingprocessdoesnothappenbymerepresenceof
styrene.Thecrosslinkingprocessneedsatriggerorinitiation.This is
accomplishedbyadditionofasmallamountofcuringagentalsoknown
li h d b dditi f ll t f i t l k
asinitiator.Benzoyl peroxideisaverypopularcuringagentfor
polyesters.

Thecrosslinkingprocessreactiondoesnothaveanybyproductssinceall
ofstyrenegetsusedupforpurposesofcrosslinkingpolymericchains.

Thisisanexothermicreaction,whichoccursatroomtemperatureandat
atmospheric pressure. The chemical undergoes shrinkage during this
atmosphericpressure.Thechemicalundergoesshrinkageduringthis
process.
Thermosets:Polyesters
y
Propertiesofpolyesterscanbemodifiedandtailoredasperdesign
requirements.Towardsthisend,severalvariablescanbemanipulated.
i t T d thi d l i bl b i l t d
Someofthesevariablesare:
Rawmaterialsusedforproducingpolyesterresin:Typically,polyesterresinisproduced
fromreactionofdiethylene glycol,andmaleic acid.However,byselectingalternative
glycolsandacids,propertiesoffinalpolyestermatrixmaterialmaybemodified.
Solventmonomers:Styreneisaverypopularmonomerusedtocrosslinkpolyester
chains However other monomers may as well be used for purposes of modifying matrix
chains.However,othermonomersmayaswellbeusedforpurposesofmodifyingmatrix
materialsproperties.
Processingvariables

Commonly UsedPropertiesofThermoset Polyester

Specific gravity 1.1to1.4
Tensilemodulus(MPa) 2000to4400
Tensilestrength(MPa) 33 to104
CTE(permillionperC) 55to100
Waterabsorption(%over 24hrs) 0.15to0.65
Thermosets:Epoxies
p
Epoxythermosets,likepolyesterthermosets,areproducedfromepoxy
resins.Theseresinscomeinviscousliquidform,andhavelowmolecular
i Th i i i li id f dh l l l
weight.

Theviscosityoftheseresinsstronglydependsontheextentof
polymerizationofitsmolecules.

Commonepoxyresinsareproducedthroughareactionbetween
epichlorohydrin andbisphenolA.Alternativeformulationsreplace
bisphenolAwithotherchemicals.

Acuringagent(orhardener,oractivator)triggersthepolymerization
A i t ( h d ti t ) t i th l i ti
processamongstresinmolecules,therebygeneratingaverydense
networkofcrosslinkedpolymer.Diethylene triamine isaverycommonly
usedcuringagent.
Thermosets:Epoxies
p
Theexothermicreactionbetweenhardener(curingagent)andresin
(
(compound)doesnotproduceabyproduct.Further,likepolyesters,
d) d t d b d t F th lik l t
epoxiesalsoundergoshrinkageduringthecuringprocess.

Epoxies,likepolyesters,canbeproducedatroomtemperatures.However,
byproperselectionofcuringagents,thecuringprocesscanbeconducted
at elevated temperatures as well
atelevatedtemperaturesaswell.

Thecuringprocesstimestronglydependsonthechoiceofresinaswellas
curingagent.Itcanvarybetweenminutesto24hours.

Manyatimes,heatisappliedtoacceleratethecuringprocess.Typically,
M ti h ti li d t l t th i T i ll
curingtimedecreases,almostexponentially,withincreasingtemperature.
Thermosets:Epoxies
p
Commercially,epoxiesareavailableastwopartsystem,aswellone
partsystem.Whilethetwopartepoxiesrequiremixingofhardener
t t Whil th t t i i i i fh d
andresin,onepartsystemscomeareessentiallypremixedsystems(of
hardenerandresin).Typically,onepartsystemshavetobestoredatlow
temperatures,sothatcuringprocessgetssignificantlysloweddown,and
theepoxydoesnotgetcuredwhilebeingstored.

Typical PropertyRangeforEpoxies
Specific gravity 1.2to1.3
Tensilemodulus(MPa) 2500 to4500
Tensilestrength(MPa) 50 to150
CTE (per million per C)
CTE(permillionperC) 45 to70
to 70
Waterabsorption(%over 24hrs) 0.05 to0.15
Thermosets:Vinylesters
y
Similarinbehaviortopolyesters.
Lowviscosityandreducedcuringtime
Slightlymoreexpensivecomparedtopolyesters
Verygoodmechanicalproperties
U lik
Unlikepolyesters,thesematerialshavesuperiorresistancetoUV
l h i l h i i UV
Chemicalperformanceissuperiorvisvispolyesters
Works well in humid and wet environments
Workswellinhumidandwetenvironments
Overallperformanceissomewhereinbetweenpolyesters,andepoxies.
Commonapplicationsincludechemicalvessels,pipes,etc.

Typical PropertyRangeforVinylesters
Specific gravity 1 1 to 1.3
1.1to 13
Tensilemodulus(MPa) 3000 to3700
Tensilestrength(MPa)
g ( ) 70 to81
CTE(permillionperC) 50 to55
Thermosets:Polyimides
y
Relativelyhighermaximumusetemperature(300C)
E ll t i t
Excellentresistancetosolventsandchemicalagents
t l t d h i l t
Verystrongandstiffamongstthermosets
Bismaleimides (BMI)aremostpopularthermosetsinthisclassof
(BMI) are most popular thermosets in this class of
materials.
However,BMIsareverybrittle.Hence,theyarecombinedwithother
th
thermoplasticstoaddressthislimitation.Typicaladditivesinclude
l ti t dd thi li it ti T i l dditi i l d
polysulfones,polyetherimides,andotherthermoplastics.

Typical PropertyRangeforPolyimides
Specific gravity 1.4 to1.5
Tensile modulus (MPa)
Tensilemodulus(MPa) 3500 to 5000
3500to5000
Tensilestrength(MPa) 120
CTE(permillionperC)
(p p ) 90
Waterabsorption(%,in24hrs) 0.30
Thermosets:Phenolics
Verylowflammability
P d
Producelesssmokeduringoxidation/charringprocess
l k d i id ti / h i
Dimensionallystablewhensubjectedtochangesintemperature
Good adhesion properties
Goodadhesionproperties
Goodcandidatesforpublictransportationsystems,whereflammability
andsmokeconcernsareverysignificant
Alsousedinaircraftapplicationsforsimilarreasons

Typical PropertyRangeforPhenolics
Specific gravity 1.30
Tensile modulus (MPa)
Tensilemodulus(MPa) 2700 to 4200
2700to4200
Tensilestrength(MPa) 50to60
CTE(permillionperC)
(p p ) 45to120
Waterabsorption(%,in24hrs) 0.10to 0.20
 R f
References

1. Analysis and Performance of Fiber Composites, Agarwal,

B D and
B.D. d Broutman,
B t L J.,
L. J John
J h Wiley
Wil & Sons.
S

2
2. Mechanics
M h i off Composite
C i Materials,
M i l Jones,
J R M.,
R. M McGraw
M G
Hill.

3. Engineering Mechanics of Composite Materials, Daniel, I.

M and Ishai,
M. Ishai O.,
O Oxford University Press.
Press