SAMPE Journal - November/December 2011 - (Page 54)

Tech Tidbits Composites Reinforcement Fibers: IV – Other Fibers of Interest Dr. Scott W. Beckwith, SAMPE International Technical Director and President, BTG Composites Inc., Taylorsville, UT Previous “Tech Tidbits” columns discussed some of the more well-known fiber reinforcement materials such as: glass, aramid, polyethylene, carbon and graphite. This portion addresses other high performance fibers that are frequently used in the composites industry for a variety of applications. These applications typically are used where compression strength and stiffness are required (Boron), high temperature environments exist (Silicon Carbide, Alumina and Alumina-Silica) and radome applications (Astroquartz) are utilized. Boron fiber is noted for its high strength in compression, coupled with its inherently high stiffness value in both tension and compression. This fiber is “large” compared to most reinforcement fibers used today in traditional advanced composite structures. It is manufactured in three (3) diameters with a standard diameter on the order of 102 microns. The material often is mixed with carbon or graphite fibers in prepreg uni-tape for providing good stiffness and strength in repair situations. Astroquartz is often the fiber reinforcement of choice in applications where radar transmission and radome structures are the end-use. It often is used in a wide number of fabric forms and manufactured by hand lay-up/vacuum bagging or resin infusion processing into complex shapes. The dominant high temperature fiber forms are the silica carbide (SiC), alumina-silica and alumina reinforcement materials. Their attributes encompass much higher temperature ranges than all of the other fiber materials. Consequently these materials are used for temperatures well beyond glass, aramid, organic, and many of the carbon/graphite systems. It is noted that there are a wide variety of properties available; hence the actual properties are expressed in terms of a “range” rather than a specific value for these. Table 1. Typical mechanical and physical properties of high performance fibers (range) References 1. Handbook of Composites, 2nd Edition, Edited by S.T. Peters, Chapman & Hall, 1998. 2. ASM Handbook of Composites, Vol. 21, ASM International, 2001. 3. Carbon and High Performance Fibres: Directory and Databook, Edition 6, T. Starr, Chapman & Hall, 1995. 54 SAMPE Journal, Volume 47, No. 6, November/December 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal - November/December 2011

SMPE Journal - November/December 2011
Table of Contents
President’s Message
Technical Director’s Corner
Life Cycle Structural Health Monitoring of Airframe Structures: Strain Mapping Using FBG Sensors
Europe News & Views
SAMPE Europe’s SEICO 2012, Paris
12th Japan International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition – JISSE-12
SAMPE Books & CD’s Order Form
SAMPE Proceedings
SAMPE Tech 2012 Call for Papers
Pitch-Catch (Low Frequency) Bondtesters
The SAMPE Foundation
Corporate Partners
Materials & Products
SAMPE LinkedIn Communities
SAMPE Journal Editorial Calender
Welcome SAMPE’s Newest Members
SAMPE 2012
SAMPE 2012 Exhibition
Industry News
SAMPE Asia 2012|Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Cost-Effective, Phase-Based Thermography Method for Ultrasonic Investigation of Defects in CFRP Structures
Tech Tidbits
Upcoming SAMPE Events
Chapter Meetings Dates and Contacts
Advertiser’s Index
Resource Center
Membership Application
Industry Events Calendar
Statement to Record Ownership

SAMPE Journal - November/December 2011