ACMA BASIC COMPOSITES MANUAL
STUDY GUIDE (MODULE 1/2) WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
What are the beneficial characteristics of composite materials? - ANSWER-High
Strength, Light Weight, Corrosion Resistance, Design Flexibility, Durability, Production
Flexibility, Size Range
High Strength: Composite materials can be designed to meet the specific
strength requirements of an application. A distinct advantage of composites over other
materials is the ability to use many combinations of resins and reinforcements, and
therefore to custom tailor the mechanical and physical properties of a structure.
Light Weight: Composites are materials that can be designed to have light weight and
high strength. In fact, composites are used to produce structures with the highest
specific strength of all engineering materials.
Corrosion Resistance: Composites products provide long-term performance with
environmental exposure and resistance to severe chemical environments.
Composites are often the material of choice for outdoor exposure, chemical handling
applications, and severe environmental conditions.
Design Flexibility: Composites have an advantage over other materials because they
can be molded into complex shapes at relatively low cost. The flexibility of creating
complex shapes offers design freedom that is a hallmark of composites achievement.
Durability: Composite structures have an exceedingly long-life span. The longevity of
composites, along with their low maintenance requirements, is a major benefit in critical
applications. There are many well-designed composite structures constructed over fifty
years ago that are still in active use today.
Production Flexibility: Composites products can be manufactured in low-volume, or
even "One-off" production, and in high-volume serial production producing thousands of
units per year.
Size Range: Composites can be used to mold small utility objects and two-hundred-foot
ships. The nature of the molding processes allows adaptability over a
What are three broad groups of fiber reinforced composites? - ANSWER-Polymer
Matrix Composites (PMC) - Polymer resin combined with a variety
of fibers
, Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) - Metal reinforced with metal fiber such as silicon
carbide
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) - Ceramic reinforced with metallic whiskers
What are the two-family groups of polymers used to produce plastic products? Name
some of the common resins in each group. - ANSWER-Thermo plastic - formulations of
Nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ABS
***KNOW***
How can a laminate be designed to create a very stiff structure in one direction? -
ANSWER-***KNOW***
A composite can be designed to have more bending resistance in one direction than the
other by changing the orientation (direction) of the fiber in the laminate.
Why is the range of materials options both an advantage and a disadvantage of a
composite? - ANSWER-The benefit is the ability to achieve high specific strength and
low weight with composite:
However, the complication is that composites require more design and engineering
input as compared to designing with metals or concrete.
What are the functional requirements for selecting a resin? - ANSWER-1. Strength and
toughness
2. Chemical resistance
3. Heat resistance
4. Shrinkage (during curing)
5. Handling requirements
6. Molding process
7. Cost
How are fibers used in composites categorized? - ANSWER-The fibers used in
composites are categorized by the type of fiber, the configuration of the fibers, and the
weight of the fibers
Thermoset - polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy and polyurethane resin formulations
***KNOW***
What is the difference between a saturated and unsaturated polyester resin? -
ANSWER-***KNOW***
Saturated: Thermoplastic Resin - cured - Non-reactive
Unsaturated: Thermoset Resin - uncured - Reactive
***KNOW***
Discuss the functional elements of composites. - ANSWER-***KNOW***
STUDY GUIDE (MODULE 1/2) WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
What are the beneficial characteristics of composite materials? - ANSWER-High
Strength, Light Weight, Corrosion Resistance, Design Flexibility, Durability, Production
Flexibility, Size Range
High Strength: Composite materials can be designed to meet the specific
strength requirements of an application. A distinct advantage of composites over other
materials is the ability to use many combinations of resins and reinforcements, and
therefore to custom tailor the mechanical and physical properties of a structure.
Light Weight: Composites are materials that can be designed to have light weight and
high strength. In fact, composites are used to produce structures with the highest
specific strength of all engineering materials.
Corrosion Resistance: Composites products provide long-term performance with
environmental exposure and resistance to severe chemical environments.
Composites are often the material of choice for outdoor exposure, chemical handling
applications, and severe environmental conditions.
Design Flexibility: Composites have an advantage over other materials because they
can be molded into complex shapes at relatively low cost. The flexibility of creating
complex shapes offers design freedom that is a hallmark of composites achievement.
Durability: Composite structures have an exceedingly long-life span. The longevity of
composites, along with their low maintenance requirements, is a major benefit in critical
applications. There are many well-designed composite structures constructed over fifty
years ago that are still in active use today.
Production Flexibility: Composites products can be manufactured in low-volume, or
even "One-off" production, and in high-volume serial production producing thousands of
units per year.
Size Range: Composites can be used to mold small utility objects and two-hundred-foot
ships. The nature of the molding processes allows adaptability over a
What are three broad groups of fiber reinforced composites? - ANSWER-Polymer
Matrix Composites (PMC) - Polymer resin combined with a variety
of fibers
, Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) - Metal reinforced with metal fiber such as silicon
carbide
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) - Ceramic reinforced with metallic whiskers
What are the two-family groups of polymers used to produce plastic products? Name
some of the common resins in each group. - ANSWER-Thermo plastic - formulations of
Nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ABS
***KNOW***
How can a laminate be designed to create a very stiff structure in one direction? -
ANSWER-***KNOW***
A composite can be designed to have more bending resistance in one direction than the
other by changing the orientation (direction) of the fiber in the laminate.
Why is the range of materials options both an advantage and a disadvantage of a
composite? - ANSWER-The benefit is the ability to achieve high specific strength and
low weight with composite:
However, the complication is that composites require more design and engineering
input as compared to designing with metals or concrete.
What are the functional requirements for selecting a resin? - ANSWER-1. Strength and
toughness
2. Chemical resistance
3. Heat resistance
4. Shrinkage (during curing)
5. Handling requirements
6. Molding process
7. Cost
How are fibers used in composites categorized? - ANSWER-The fibers used in
composites are categorized by the type of fiber, the configuration of the fibers, and the
weight of the fibers
Thermoset - polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy and polyurethane resin formulations
***KNOW***
What is the difference between a saturated and unsaturated polyester resin? -
ANSWER-***KNOW***
Saturated: Thermoplastic Resin - cured - Non-reactive
Unsaturated: Thermoset Resin - uncured - Reactive
***KNOW***
Discuss the functional elements of composites. - ANSWER-***KNOW***
