Question

explain three advantages and three disadvantages of using composite materials with examples.

Answer 1

Composite material - Composite materials are the materials which are composed of two or more physically distinct phases whose combination produces aggregate properties that are different from those of its constituents. Examples - concrete reinforced with steel, rubber mixed with carbon black, etc.

Three advantages of composite materials are :-

1.) Design flexibility - Composites have an advantage over other materials because they can be moulded into complex shapes at relatively low cost. This gives designer to create any shape or configuration.

2.) Corrosion resistance - They produce long term resistance to severe chemical and temperature environments.

3.) Higher specific strength than metals, non-metals and alloys, improved toughness and creep and fatigue strength is also better.

Three disadvantages of composite materials are :-

1.) Manufacturing methods for shaping composite materials are often slow and costly.

2.) Composite materials are more brittle than wrought metals and thus are more easily damaged.

3.) In composite materials, matrix is week which causes low toughness. Reuse and disposal of composite material may be difficult.