Fiber Materials for Composites
Composite materials consist of a matrix of continuous phases and reinforcement phase contained by the matrix. Different kinds of fibers have become ideal candidates for reinforcement of composite materials, which are used to enhance the properties, such as stiffness, strength, dimensional stability and thermal stability, etc. Combining extensive experience and an extensive product catalog, Alfa Chemistry has the ability to provide customers with fiber solutions for composite materials.
Typical Fibers for Reinforcement
- Glass Fiber
Fiberglass is the oldest and by far the most common reinforcement material used to replace heavier metal components in most end market applications. The disadvantages of glass fibers are brittleness and poor wear resistance. The different key physical properties of glass fibers are listed as below:
| Classes of GFs | Physical properties |
|---|
| A glass | High durability, strength and electrical resistivity |
| C glass | High corrosion resistance |
| D glass | Low dielectric constant |
| E glass | Higher strength and electrical resistivity |
| AR glass | Alkali resistance |
| R glass | Higher strength and acid corrosion resistance |
| S glass | Higher tensile strength |
- Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber can be compounded with resins, metals, ceramics, etc. to make structural materials, which are widely used in high-performance applications. For instance, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites have the highest comprehensive index of specific strength and specific modulus among existing structural materials. In fields with strict requirements on density, stiffness, weight, fatigue characteristics, high temperature and high chemical stability, etc., these materials have considerable advantages. - Natural Fiber
In recent years, the application of natural fibers in composite materials has also attracted extensive attention. Some plant fibers are excellent reinforcements, and combining them with thermoplastic matrices can create "green composites". In addition, animal fibers can also be used as reinforcing materials for biodegradable or bioabsorbable polymers to make fully biodegradable polymer composites. - Other Fibers
Other reinforcing fibers include aramid fiber, boron fiber, etc. Aramid fiber is an excellent choice in composite materials that require impact resistance. Boron fiber-reinforced composite materials, such as boron fiber-epoxy resin and boron fiber-aluminum, are developing rapidly, both of which are used in aircraft manufacturing.
Comparison of Properties
The following is a brief description of the performance differences between the carbon fiber composites and glass fiber composites, which are the two most important types of fiber reinforced composites.
Carbon Fiber Composite Material
- Lightweight (70% lighter than metal steel, 40% lighter than aluminum)
- High stiffness to weight ratio
- Low thermal expansion (Unlike most materials, carbon fiber has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion, which means it shrinks when the temperature rises.)
- Fatigue resistance
- Corrosion resistance
Glass Fiber Composite
- High stiffness-to-weight ratio (generally exhibits a higher ultimate breaking point than similarly shaped carbon fiber products)
- Cost-effective (cost is much lower than carbon fiber composites)
- Insulation
- Corrosion resistance
- No radio signal interference
Related Fiber Series
The following are some fiber series you may be interested in, click to quickly browse related products.
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