9.6 The Uses of Composite Materials

Composite material
■ Composite material

	►	Materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. The two materials combined together to give the composite desirable properties,
	►	Consist of a mixture of two or more materials such as metals, alloys, ceramics, carbon and polymer.
	►	Generally, composite materials have better properties of the original material.

■ This video contains information on the composite material.

■ Types of composite materials and its uses.

	►	○ Compositions: mixture of cement, gravel, sand water, iron/steel to produce nets, rods or bars. ○ Properties: strong, high tensile ○ Uses: construction material for highways, buildings and bridges.
	►	Superconductor ○ Compositions: Mixture of various components such as niobium and germanium. ○ Properties: No electrical resistance(zero resistance). Only can function under an extremely low temperature. ○ Uses: Materials for transportation, telecommunication and astronomy, industry and medical.
	►	Fibre glass ○ Compositions: Mixture of silica, sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate. ○ Properties: Good insulator of heat and electricity. ○ Uses: Protective apparel materials for astronauts and fire-fighters.
	►	Fibre optic ○ Compositions: Mixture of glass, copper and aluminium. ○ Properties: Enables information to be transmitted in light form at high speeds. ○ Uses: Electrical cables in communication industry and cables used in medical field to observe internal organs without performing surgery.
	►	Photochromic glass ○ Compositions: Molten silica mixed with a little argentum chloride. ○ Properties: Dark-coloured when exposed to bright light and bright when in the dark. ○ Uses: Optical lenses and glass windows for vehicles.
	►	Ceramic glass ○ Compositions: Exposing glass that contains certain amount of metals to ultraviolet rays and heating it at a high temperature. ○ Uses: Cooking materials and rocket heads.
	►	Plastic strengthened with glass fibres ○ Compositions: Mixture of plastic and glass fibres ○ Properties: Very strong, light, easily formed and can withstand corrosion. ○ Uses: Make helmets, the body of cars and aeroplanes, rods and other parts of aeroplanes.

← 9.5 Uses of Glass and Ceramics

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