Introduction to aerospace materials by Adrian P. Mouritz

Author:Adrian P. Mouritz [Mouritz, Adrian P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 978-0-85709-515-2
Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
Published: 2012-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

14.2 Fibre reinforcements for composites

14.2.1 Carbon fibres: production, structure and properties

Carbon (graphite) fibres are very stiff, strong and light filaments used in polymer (usually epoxy) matrix composites for aircraft structures and jet engine parts. Polymer composites containing carbon fibres are up to five times stronger than mild steel for structural parts, yet are five times lighter. Carbon fibre composites have better fatigue properties and corrosion resistance than virtually every type of metal, including the high-strength alloys used in airframe and engine components. Carbon fibres do not soften or melt and, when used in reinforced carbon–carbon composites, have exceptional heat resistance for high-temperature applications such as thermal insulation tiles, aircraft brake pads and rocket nozzles (as described in chapter 16). Although carbon fibres do not soften/melt, they do ultimately lose strength at high temperature via oxidation.

Applications for carbon-fibre composites have expanded dramatically since their first use in the 1960s and, alongside aluminium, is the most used aircraft structural material. Important factors behind the greater use of composites have been improvement to the properties and reduction in the cost of carbon fibres. Figure 14.3 shows the large increase in the use and reduction in the average price of carbon fibres since their first application in aircraft. It is important to note that large variations exist in the price depending on the fibre properties, and therefore the figure provides an indicative trend.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.