Chapter 10 - Synthetic/natural fiber composites for aircraft engine fire designated zones and their potential application in automotive engines

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with the thermal, mechanical, and velocity impact properties of synthetic and hybrid (combination of natural and synthetic) fiber-metal laminate (FML) composites with and without nanoparticles in a polymer matrix. The thermal degradation, elastic properties, tensile strength, flexural rigidity, and energy absorbed due to the impact of flat cylindrical projectiles on composites were experimentally studied. Three types of properties were experimentally investigated using different machines and the ASTM standard. The investigation revealed that the addition of nanoparticles that are environmentally friendly to an epoxy resin/hardener in synthetic/hybrid reinforced fibers produces potential composites to be used in aircraft fire designated zones and in automotive engines. An average 31% increase in thermal conductivity was obtained for composites that contained 0.5wt% of nanoparticles over composites without nanoparticles. More absorbed energy was obtained in synthetic fibers by 21% than natural fibers and the strength was increased almost 20%.