Page 25 - POLYMER TECHNOLOGY

2.3 Improvement Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Plastic

Plastic materials have good properties such as light weight, good thermal insulation,
malleability and ductility. These properties are not sufficient for use in engineering.
Therefore, the properties of plastic materials need to be improved to further expand
the use of plastic materials in engineering. Plastic material is not good enough in
strength, hardness and resistance to temperature. These plastic material properties
can be improved to make it more useful.

Polymer Matrix Composites
Polymer matrix composites are materials made up from fibres that are embedded in
an organic polymer matrix. These fibres are to enhance selected properties of the
polymer material.

Figure 2.6: Polymer Matrix Composite material

Polymer matrix composites can be classified based on the type of reinforced material
embedded in the composite materials. There is particle reinforced, fibre reinforced
(short and continuous) and structural reinforced.
Reinforcement of polymers by strong fibrous network permits fabrication of Polymer
Matrix Composites (PMC) characterized by the following properties; high tensile,
strength, high stiffness, high fracture toughness, good abrasion resistance, good
puncture resistance, good corrosion resistance and low cost.

Two types of polymers are used as matrix materials for fabrication composites:
Thermosets (epoxies, phenolics) and Thermoplastics (Low Density Polyethylene
(LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, nylon, acrylics).

According to the reinforcement material the following groups of Polymer Matrix
Composites (PMC) are used:

a. Fiberglass – Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers
b. Carbon fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites
c. Kevlar (aramid) fibres reinforced polymers
d. Reinforcing fibres may be arranged in different forms

Properties of Polymer Matrix Composites are determined by:
a. Properties of the fibres
b. Orientation of the fibres
c. Concentration of the fibres
d. Properties of the matrix

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