The potential application areas for polymer composites are vast. While techniques and methodologies for composites design are relatively well established, the knowledge and understanding of post-design issues lag far behind. This leads to designs and eventually composites with disappointing properties and unnecessarily high cost, thus impeding a wider industrial acceptance of polymer composites.
Manufacturing of Polymer Composites completely covers pre- and post-design issues. While the book enables students to become fully comfortable with composites as a possible materials choice, it also provides sufficient knowledge about manufacturing-related issues to permit them to avoid common pitfalls and unmanufacturable designs. The book is a fully comprehensive text covering all commercially significant materials and manufacturing techniques while at the same time discussing areas of research and development that are nearing commercial reality.
The Evolution of Materials
The Composite Concept
Design and Manufacturing
Market
Application Examples
CONSTITUENT MATERIALS
Matrices
Reinforcements
Preimpregnated Reinforcement
Core Materials
Adhesives
Composites Based on Inorganic Matrices
Summary
PROPERTIES
Matrices
Reinforcements
Core Materials
Sandwich Components
Summary
MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES
Generic Manufacturing-Related Issues
Thermostat-Matrix Techniques
Thermoplastic-Matrix Techniques
Manufacturing-Induced Component Defects
Summary
SECONDARY PROCESSING
Machining
Ioning
Surface Finishing
Repair
Summary
Quality Control and Characterization
Constituent Quality Control and Characerization
Composite Characterization
Composite Quality Control
In-Service Inspection
Summary
RECYCLING
Incentives
Infrastructure
Recycling Techniques
Market Commitment
Green Thinking in Design
Summary
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Terminology
Routes of Exposure and Harmful Effects
Protective Measures
Constituent Materials
Manufacturing Techniques
Machining
Summary
Index
Biography
B. Tomas Astrom