![]() ![]() So for the same weight of composite we get more strength. If you make up 3 samples exactly the same size and weight them you quickly see that Kevlar® fiber is much lighter, Carbon Fibre is next and the E Glass is the heaviest. When we compare the density of our 3 materials we see a significant difference. The Denser a material is the heavier it will feel for an equal sized chunk. Density and Strength to Weight Ratio Weight per Unit Volume or Density of Carbon fibre, Kevlar, and E Glass In the end if Tensile Strength is your only concern, save your money and use e glass. MatWeb is an example of a site that provides Material Property Data. Another source of data about materials is the various engineering pages about materials. The figures are given for comparison only, The figures given in this article mostly come from Wikipedia and from the spec sheets of manufacturing companies. When making comparisons it's important to note that there are differences in each of the materials in manufacturing processes, precursor materials, and after-treatments. This comes as quite a surprise to many people. The tensile strength of Carbon Fiber, Kevlar® and Glass is similar. Epoxy strength is degraded when exposed to higher temperatures. ![]() For this reason it needs to be coated with UV protection. The surface becomes chalky and looses strength. Respirators are helpful if you have a tendency to react to chemicals.Ĭured Epoxy is very resistant but will degrade if exposed to UV. It's always better to protect yourself by working with gloves and at the very least have a well ventilated area. Bisphenol A, which is used in epoxy resin, is a known endocrine disruptor. This can become asthma in sensitive individuals. The main risk associated with epoxy use is sensitization to the hardener which can result in serious allergic reactions, which can occur even after a few days. The epoxy simply does not stick to everything.Įpoxy has proved to be a relatively safe material. That's why not all fibres are suitable as epoxy composite. It is also somewhat brittle.Įpoxy has found a wide range of applications, including fiber-reinforced plastic materials, general purpose adhesives and strong chemically resistant coatings and finishes.Īlthough epoxy bond mechanically if the surfaces are rough, the strongest bond is by far an ionic bond with its reinforcing fibers. The resulting Epoxy polymer is heavily cross linked (networked), and thus strong, hard and rigid. Polyepoxide or as it is better known Epoxy, is a thermosetting network polymer which forms when an epoxyide resin reacts with a polyamine hardener. It helps protect the fibers from damage and provides impact resistance. Although the main purpose of the epoxy matrix is to adhere to and transfer the loads to the fibers it is a strong material in its own right. Epoxy is used to bind whatever strengthening fiber is being used and to lock them in position so they can stay in position to do their job.įiber reinforced structures usually have the fibers running in specific directions to focus the reinforcement where it is needed and the epoxy keeps the fibers where they are needed. Although reinforcing fibers are used in many applications, if you are a boatbuilder, epoxy is the substrate you will be dealing with. Your can't talk about composite fibers without introducing epoxy. For more detailed description of the characteristics of Kevlar® and Carbon Fiber follow the links at the top. Comparison of Carbon Fiber, Kevlar® (Aramid) and E Glass used in Composites for Boatbuilding. ![]()
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