Composite materials are produced from the combination of two or more different compounds such as alloys, metals, glass, polymers and ceramic.
Uses
Composite Materials | Composition | Properties | Uses |
Reinforcement Concrete | • Cement • Gravel • Sand • Water • Iron or Steel | ∆ Strong ∆ High textile strength ∆ Cheap | - Construction materials |
Superconductor | • Niobium • Germanium | ∆ Zero resistance ∆ Functions only under extremely low temperatures | - Transportation -Telecommunications - Astronomy industry - Medical field |
Fibre Glass | • Silica • Sodium carbonate • Calcium carbonate | ∆ Good insulator of heat and electricity | - Protective apparel for astronauts and firefighters |
Fibre Optics | • Glass • Copper • Aluminium | ∆ Enables information to be transmitted in light form at light speed | - Electrical cables - observe internal organs without surgery |
Photochromic Glass | • Molten silica • Silver cloride | ∆ Dark in colour when exposed to light and bright when in the dark | - Optical lenses - Glass windows |
Ceramic Glass | • Produced by exposing glass that contains certain amounts of metal to ultraviolet rays and heating it at high temperatures | - Cooking materials - Rocket heads | |
Plastic strengthened with glass fibres | • Plastic • Glass | ∆ Very strong ∆ Light ∆ Easily formed ∆ Withstands corrosion | - Helmets - Body of cars and aeroplanes - rods |
Fibre Glass
Glass fibre is formed when thin strands of silica based or other formulation glass is extruded into fibres with small diameters suitable for textile processing.
Glass is unlike other polymers in that it has little crystalline structure and can be considered a substance frozen in its amorphous stage. The properties of the structure of glass in its softened stage are very much like its properties when spun into fibre.
The main advantage is that they will darken into a sunglass when exposed to U.V. light, thus obviating the need to carry a separate pair of sunglasses for protection against harmful U.V. rays from the sun.
Secondly, they provide a better visual health through UV protection than traditional prescription sunglasses.
References
-Longman Essential Chemistry SPM
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photochromic_lens
-http://www.eyewearcanada.com/eyeglasses/advantages-and-disadvantages-about-photochromic-sunglasses/
-http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitcar/kb.php?aid=106
