Life Facilitating Material: Composites

Technology is advancing with a dizzying speed. We encounter new materials and new concepts in our daily life all the time. One of the words we often hear in connection with technology is "composite". Well, what is composite? The new material obtained by combining at least two different materials is called composite material. Compared to traditional materials, composites are more stable and lighter. Also, the design of composite materials is easier. The resulting material is fire resistant. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly. For these reasons, the use of composite materials is becoming increasingly common in every field. From aerospace to defense industry, from automotive to dental treatment, composite material is now used in various areas.

Sandwich panels with Nidaplast honeycomb used in furniture industry

Core Materials

Basically, fibers and resins are combined with various production methods, resulting in composite materials becoming more rigid, more durable and lighter due to the addition of core materials to the structure. Thanks to core materials, the thickness of the composite structure increases while the weight increases only slightly. Composites obtained by using core materials are referred to as sandwich composites. The most commonly used core materials are honeycombs and foams.

Polypropylene parts used for vehicles

Honeycomb

Honeycomb-shaped core material consisting of very thin cells with hexagonal geometry can be produced using polypropylene (PP), aramid, aluminum, and paper. Honeycomb-structured core materials are used in structures requiring high mechanical strength, especially when impact energy absorption is needed. Sandwich composites made using PP honeycomb core materials are preferred particularly in the automotive, marine and construction sectors. PP honeycomb core materials have been developed with special additives to meet non-flammability standards.

Foams

Foam-based core materials derived from polymeric materials enable the production of very lightweight sandwich composite structures. PET, PVC, polyurethane and SAN-based foams, which can be produced with density values between 40–300 kg/m³, offer excellent strength-to-weight ratios. PET-based foams are particularly preferred for sandwich structures where advanced fire resistance is required. The material structure of PET is highly flame retardant and smoke and toxic gas emissions are lower than other foams.

3Dcore

Advanced Technology Foams

With technological advances, improved properties of core materials are being achieved. Fiber-containing foams are called high-tech core materials. Higher strength sandwich composite structures can be obtained after the foam structure is reinforced in various ways with fibers. This new generation of core materials is attracting particular interest from the automotive and construction industries. Burak Darcan Founder – General Manager Tila Kompozit Temsilcilik İç ve Dış Tic. Ltd. Şti.