Fiber reinforced composite of high fracture toughness
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsNam P. Suh, Terence J. Jones, Nak-Ho Sung
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Abstract
This invention relates to fiber reinforced plastic composites, and more particularly, composites having substantially improved fracture toughness at high speed loading. In accordance with this invention, the fracture toughness of a composite is substantially improved by the use of an internal energy damping mechanism which is dependent upon the rate of loading. This energy damping mechanism comprises fibers dispersed through the composite pre-coated with a viscous fluid. Upon impact, substantial energy is dissipated at the fiber-matrix interface due to shear deformation of the coated viscous layer.
Claims21
An article of manufacture comprising a solid plastic composite having fibers dispersed therethrough, a portion at least of said fibers being coated with a fluid having a viscosity of at least 25 CPS, said coating being of a thickness sufficient to increase the impact resistance of said plastic composite and said fluid being substantially immiscible and nonreactive with the plastic of said matrix, curing agents for said plastic and the material of said fibers.
A method for substantially increasing the impact strength of a fiber reinforced plastic composite, said method comprising coating at least a portion of said fibers with a fluid prior to their incorporation into the plastic matrix of said composition, said coating being of a thickness sufficient to increase the impact resistance of said plastic composite and said fluid having a viscosity of at least 25 CPS and being substantially immiscible and non-reactive with the plastic of said composite, curing agents for said plastic and the material of said fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.