In this discussion, we will look at composites and the benefit of composites to our society. Composites are everywhere. We wear them, we ride them, we use them. We're going to talk about the classification. As I said, composites are everywhere in our daily life. We look at the rims for the motorcycle. You can even look at the fiberglass body for the motorcycle. The boots, the helmet, the Kevlar jacket, they're all composite materials. We have our bicycles, skates, and the aircraft and we'll discuss that in more detail. But composites have made a substantial impact on society since the 1950s. What are composite materials? Composite materials are multi-component materials that exhibit the best properties of both components, such that the overall properties are better. They have typical use for a specific application. This is based on the principle of combined action. Better property combinations are designed from two or more distinctively different materials with property trade-offs. You take two different materials, combine them such that the overall properties of those individuals are different. But when we combine them, we get a better property for a specific application. Again, often they are trade-offs, but most often we can live with the trade-offs. For example, if we look at the Boeing 787, this plane is unique in the fact that if we look at the materials, fiberglass, aluminum, carbon laminate, carbon sandwich composites, some aluminum, some steel, some titanium. But if we look at this thing and compare it to previous planes, it actually has a higher speed with a substantial fuel savings. So by utilizing a large amount of composites, this plane now flies faster than the previous 777 Dreamliner and it has 20 percent fuel savings. If we look at this we can say why does this happen? It uses a unique composites. We look at the floor of the composite, we have a honeycomb structure. Now, if I'll just take this moment to look at the honeycomb. It is flexible in one direction, but very strong in the other. Then we have face plates. In this particular case, we take another composite material, Kevlar, the body armor, we place it together making the sandwich structure. Now we have extremely lightweight floor material, but very strong. Kevlar prevents any puncture and the honeycomb provides its strength and mechanical stability. Again, a very lightweight floor with utilizing Kevlar body armor, two plates. Now I have my flooring for my 787. That's one example, where is utilizing new combinations of composites. But if I look at the 777, it had 12 percent of composite materials than aluminum making up 50 percent. Whereas these 787 has 50 percent composite materials and 20 percent aluminum, then 30 percent of the other materials. Now we're utilizing ultra lightweight composites that are strong and aluminum, a very lightweight metal. That gives it the lightweight, but also the strength to endure air travel at higher speeds. If we look at composite shipments, it has increased every year since the 1950s and it will continue to do so. Because people want fuel savings. They want lightweight, but we want good mechanical stability. You can see from this histogram, transportation is going to increase its utilization of composites because we want good strength, lightweight, and that provides us good fuel economy. You can also see where the aerospace is going to increase. But overall, the utilization or the shipment of composites will increase. Let's take a moment for inquiry. Here, we're looking at the definition of composite materials and the principal of combine action and the shipment of materials. Composite materials utilize multi-component, such that a better overall property is obtained. Then we had multiple with properties with some trade-offs. We know that the shipment or production/shipment will continue to increase in the future. With composite materials, the key is to utilize the certain aspects of both components and bring them together such that now the overall properties are better and typically obtained for a specific application. Principle of combined action says that we're going to design it, not just flippantly putting things together, but we have designed it utilizing two different materials with two different properties, such that we serve a specific application. Often that means there will be trade-offs. Often we look at some of the polymer based materials. They cannot be utilized at high temperatures. That's one example. With this lecture, hopefully now we have a basic understanding of what a composite is and how it is used to benefit our society. Thank you.
