About Book

Composites are one of the most widely used materials because of their adaptability to different situations and the relative ease of combination with other materials to serve specific purpose and exhibit desirable properties. Their strength-weight ratio is higher than other materials. Their stiffness and cost effectiveness offered, apart from easy availability of raw materials, make them the obvious choice for applications in surface transportation. Composite materials have a wide range of properties and uses, making them the most common building and manufacturing materials in use today. They are created by combining two different components in order to create a new material with different properties than those which were started with. Concrete, fabric blends, paint, paricle board, plastic, glass and even paper are all examples of composite material. In the present-day scenario, use of advanced composite materials has been extended to a large number of segments. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex theories and principles in the field of composite materials and their structure. With regards to composite materials research, the specifics advances discussed in this book include the experimentation, investigation and the characterization of the behaviour mechanical, physical property for new products. It deals with atomic industry, nanocomposite materials, macroscopic properties, alumina composite materials, biocomposite materials, powder metallurgy techniques, carbon nanotubes and organic-inorganic composite materials. It is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of this important field. The book is meant for students and researchers who are looking for an elaborate reference on this field.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Introductory Chapter: Background on Composite Materials...........1

1. Overview.................................................................................................1

2. Characteristics of composites..............................................................6

3. Principle approach for material selection........................................7

4. Applications...........................................................................................9

Chapter 2 HAp Nanofibers Grown with Crystalline Preferential Orientation and Its Influence in Mechanical Properties of Organic-Inorganic Composite Materials................................................................................11

Abstract.................................................................................................11

1. Introduction..........................................................................................12

2. Different hydroxyapatite synthesis methods.................................13

3. The microwave-assisted hydrother-mal method...........................15

4. Synthesis of HAp with different morphologies through

MAHM..................................................................................................17

5. Elaboration of HAp ceramics with interconnected porosity......25

6. Obtaining the HAp-based organic-inorganic composite

material.................................................................................................26

7. Conclusions..........................................................................................29

Acknowledgements.............................................................................30

Chapter 3 Fabrication, Composition, Properties and Application of the AlMg1SiCu Aluminium Alloy Matrix Composite Materials Reinforced with Halloysite or Carbon Nanotubes...........................36

Abstract.................................................................................................36

1. Overview of applications of halloysite and carbon nanotubes in

composite materials............................................................................37

2. Fabrication and methodology of own research of composite

materials with AlMg1SiCu alloy matrix reinforced with halloysite

and carbon nanotubes........................................................................40

3. Structure and properties of composite materials with

AlMg1SiCu alloy matrix reinforced with halloysite and

carbon nanotubes................................................................................43

4. General remarks..................................................................................52

5. Additional information......................................................................53

Chapter 4 Composite Materials Infiltrated by Aluminium Alloys Based on

Porous Skeletons from Alumina, Mullite and Titanium Produced

by Powder Metallurgy Techniques......................................................62

Abstract..................................................................................................... 62

1. General characteristics of metallic matrix composite

materials................................................................................................63

2. General characteristics of the infiltration technology for the

fabrication of metal matrix composite materials with indirect use

of powder metallurgy method.........................................................66

3. General characteristics of the structure and properties of

porous skeletons manufactured by powder metallurgy methods

for infiltration with metal alloys......................................................71

4. Structure and properties of porous Al2O3 skeletons sintered or

manufactured by ceramic injection moulding from powder and

of aluminium alloy matrix composite materials reinforced with

them.......................................................................................................75

5. The structure and properties of sintered porous skeletons from

mullite obtained by sintering a mixture of halloysite nanotubes

with agents forming an open structure of pores and of aluminium

alloy matrix composite materials reinforced with it...................86

6. The structure and properties of sintered titanium porous

skeletons obtained by selective laser sintering and aluminium

alloy matrix composite materials reinforced with them.............97

Chapter 5 Biocomposite Materials ........................................................................114

1. Introduction .......................................................................................114

2. Hydroxyapatite (HA) .......................................................................114

3. Chitosan polymer (C) .....................................................................118

4. Bone structure ..................................................................................125

5. Hydroxyapatite/chitosan biocomposites: Introduction .............127

Chapter 6 Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Alumina Composite Materials....156

1. Introduction........................................................................................156

2. A novel approach for preparation of MWCNT/alumina

composites .........................................................................................158

3. Evaluation of crack bridging characteristics ..............................168

4. Conclusion .........................................................................................174

Acknowledgement ...........................................................................175

Chapter 7 Interfacial Electron Scattering in Nanocomposite Materials: Electrical Measurements to Reveal The Nc-MeN/a-SiNx Nanostructure in Order to Tune Macroscopic Properties.............180

1. Introduction........................................................................................180

2. Film morphology and nanostructure............................................182

3. Model for the Me-X-N film formation.........................................183

4. Electrical properties..........................................................................185

5. Grain boundary scattering model..................................................192

6. SiNx thickness and resistivity.........................................................194

7. Conclusion..........................................................................................199

Acknowledgements...........................................................................199

Chapter 8 New Cements and Composite Materials Based on Them for Atomic Industry.....................................................................................................203

1. Introduction........................................................................................203

2. The using of high temperature composites based on zirconia’s

cement in recycling and catcher of fuel.......................................204

3. The using of zirconia’s cement composite in coating of quartz

glass tanks..........................................................................................211

4. Conclusion..........................................................................................216

Citation......................................................................................................219

Index...........................................................................................................221

About Author

Quentin Dennis received his Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from Technological University, Compiegne. He has wide-ranging areas of academic and research interests, which include high strength composites and reinforced plastics. He has also been an invited speaker at various international conferences. Dennis serves as an Associate Professor at Open Research University, Freiburg and has also been presented the “Teacher of the Year Award”. Dennis has organized many national conferences and has authored and edited a number of articles, research papers and book chapters in these fields.