Revision 1. 6
1.9
General
1
Simply speaking, fiber composites can be compared with reinforced concrete, where a brittle, shape-
giving material (concrete) is reinforced by steel.
The fibers are embedded in a liquid mass of reactive resin and fixed in place when the resin hardens
in the mold. This technique can be used to manufacture even complex or very large parts in one
operation with relatively little effort.
The processing method is chosen according to the number and size of the parts to be manufactured
as well as structural strength requirements and other properties such as transparency, surface finish,
dimensional stability, etc.
The general rule is that a fiber composite results only from the combination of resin and fibers, i.e. it
is produced directly by the processor.
Therefore the properties of the end product depend almost entirely on careful processing and curing
as well as on component design (fiber orientation, fiber percentage, number of plies, and fabric).
Strength
The strength of a fiber composite is determined to a large extent by the reinforcing fiber.
Two types of strength are distinguished: static and dynamic.
Static strength
is a measure of a material’s behavi or under simple loads (tension, compression,
bending), whereas
dynamic strength
is a measure of a material’s behavior under frequent load
changes (bending cycles with variable force and frequency and the resulting combination of tensile,
compressive, and shear stresses).
Manual lamination
using a foam roller
