Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Advanced Composite Materials |
| Unit code |
AENGM0040 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Hamerton |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Department of Aerospace Engineering |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Engineering |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit is intended to provide students with specialist knowledge of advanced polymer composites. It will develop or enhance understanding of materials structure and property relationships and to allow them to undertake research in designing and testing composites materials. It will cover the elements of polymer composites such as polymer resin chemistry, types of fibres and their microstructure and properties, fibre and polymer resin interface, and characterisation of polymer composites using techniques such as DSC, DMA, rheometry, etc.
The aim of this unit is to:
- Provide an understanding of polymerization chemistry and structure property relationships associated with polymer matrices commonly used in advanced composites.
- Develop an understanding of the processing methods to combine polymer matrices and reinforcements.
- Develop an understanding of microstructure and chemical structure of fibres such as glass, ceramics, metal, carbon, and aramid.
- Introduce aspects of the chemistry controlling the interfaces between matrix and fibres, in particular the phenomena of adhesion, adsorption, and wetting.
- Introduce the concept of sustainable matrices and reinforcements for advanced composites.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit students will be able to select materials and/or modify material processing or manufacturing methods based on:
- Knowledge of the chemistry of cross linking of polymer resins;
- Knowledge of the methods used to process matrices for advanced composites;
- Understanding the concept of structure-property relationships for common advanced composite matrices;
- Knowledge of the types of fibres, fibre structure, and properties commonly used in advanced polymer composites;
- Understanding of the surface treatment of fibres to improve fibre matrix bonding; and to
- Apply polymer characterization techniques used in composite materials research.
Teaching Information
The unit will be delivered via a series of 1-hour lectures addressing each topic. A demonstrated laboratory session will offer experience in selected polymer characterisation techniques.
Assessment Information
1-hour, in-class written test (20%). This will test understanding of ILO 1-3.
Directed questions 2000 word case study (60%). This will test understanding of ILO 2-5.
Laboratory assignment and 1500 word laboratory report (20%). This will address ILO 6.
Reading and References
- Introduction to Polymers, 3rd ed. R J Young, P A Lovell, Taylor and Francis: Boca Raton (2011).
- Thermosets, Structure, Properties, and Applications (G Quo Ed.) Elsevier: Amsterdam (2017).
- Polymers, the Environment and Sustainable Development, A Azapagic, A M Emsley, I Hamerton (I Hamerton Ed.) Wiley: Chichester (2003).
