IB Design Technology Topic A3.1.7 Composites Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Design Technology Topic A3.1.7 Composites Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Composites: Two Materials That Cover Each Other's Weaknesses

Definition

Composite Material

A material comprised of two or more materials to improve their physical,
mechanical and chemical properties and/or aesthetics characteristics.

Every composite is built from two parts:
1. A matrix, the binder that holds everything together and transfers load between the fibres.
2. A reinforcement, which carries the load and provides the strength or stiffness.
The point is that the composite outperforms either ingredient on its own, which is why the combination is worth the extra manufacturing effort.

Analogy

Think of a composite like a cake.
The matrix is the batter that holds everything together.
The reinforcement is the nuts or fruit that add the texture you actually wanted.
Neither is much on its own, and you cannot separate them again once baked.

Why Combine Materials at All

To combine the best properties of two different materials in one part.
To increase the strength-to-weight ratio, getting strength without the mass that normally comes with it.
To improve durability, corrosion resistance or toughness beyond what either material offers.
To tailor performance to a specific context, such as aerospace or sport.
The clearest case is reinforced concrete: concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension, steel is the reverse, so together they cover both loads that A3.1.6 described.
The cost is that composites are usually harder to repair and much harder to recycle, because the two materials cannot easily be separated again.

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer: Stiff, Strong and Very Light

Matrix: epoxy resin, which is lightweight and mouldable.
Reinforcement: carbon fibre, which is strong and stiff.
Result: a strong, light and durable material, used in:
1. Aerospace structures.
2. Sports equipment such as racing bike frames and tennis rackets.
3. Components in high-performance vehicles.

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Composites: Two Materials That Cover Each Other's Weaknesses

Definition

Composite Material

A material comprised of two or more materials to improve their physical,
mechanical and chemical properties and/or aesthetics characteristics.

Every composite is built from two parts:
1. A matrix, the binder that holds everything together and transfers load between the fibres.
2. A reinforcement, which carries the load and provides the strength or stiffness.
The point is that the composite outperforms either ingredient on its own, which is why the combination is worth the extra manufacturing effort.

Analogy

Think of a composite like a cake.
The matrix is the batter that holds everything together.
The reinforcement is the nuts or fruit that add the texture you actually wanted.
Neither is much on its own, and you cannot separate them again once baked.

Why Combine Materials at All

To combine the best properties of two different materials in one part.
To increase the strength-to-weight ratio, getting strength without the mass that normally comes with it.
To improve durability, corrosion resistance or toughness beyond what either material offers.
To tailor performance to a specific context, such as aerospace or sport.
The clearest case is reinforced concrete: concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension, steel is the reverse, so together they cover both loads that A3.1.6 described.
The cost is that composites are usually harder to repair and much harder to recycle, because the two materials cannot easily be separated again.

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer: Stiff, Strong and Very Light

Matrix: epoxy resin, which is lightweight and mouldable.
Reinforcement: carbon fibre, which is strong and stiff.
Result: a strong, light and durable material, used in:
1. Aerospace structures.
2. Sports equipment such as racing bike frames and tennis rackets.
3. Components in high-performance vehicles.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

A. Design in theory8 subtopics

B. Design in practice8 subtopics

C. Design in context8 subtopics

IB Design Technology Topic A3.1.7: Composites Notes

A. Design in theory8 subtopics

B. Design in practice8 subtopics

C. Design in context8 subtopics

Composites: Two Materials That Cover Each Other's Weaknesses

Why Combine Materials at All

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer: Stiff, Strong and Very Light

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Composites: Two Materials That Cover Each Other's Weaknesses

Why Combine Materials at All

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer: Stiff, Strong and Very Light

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account