This week I learned more about composite materials and how to use them.
A composite material also known as composition material or just composite is a material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties that, when combined, they produce a material with characteristics different from the individual constituents.
Here are some examples of composite materials that I learned:
* Concrete
* Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer
* Fiber Glass (fiber-reinforced plastic)
* Paper composite panels
Benefits of composite materials:
* They are non-corrosive
* Nonconductive
* Flexible
* Durable
* Lightweight
Composites are used in constructions, medical applications, oil and gas, transportation, sports, aerospace, and many more products.
I chose to design and produce a penbox container. With CorelDraw, I designed different parts that make the container:
After I cutted all the parts with laser cutter:
They are 8 parts in total as shown below:
After I assembled all the parts together:
Here is the result:
In order to make my penbox durable and hard but also lightweight, I made a composite material to cover it. I first covered it with carbon-fibers:
Next, I prepared the matrix material: Epoxy Resin + Hardener in 1:1 ratio :
They both came in big buckets, it was hard for me to know the exact specifications. I consulted my colleagues to know the mixing ratio and they informed me that it is 1:1, I followed this instruction to prepare my matrix material and it worked well. The Resin is the one on the Left and Hardener on the Right.
I mixed both solution with 1:1 ration:
Then, added it on the carbon fiber:
Here is the final Result: it is hard, light, resist to pressure and can't easily break!
Front View:
Back View:
Side View:
Files: