Verbundwerkstofftechnik

Verbundwerkstoff (composite material) refers to a material formed by combining two or more constituent materials with substantially different properties to achieve enhanced performance. The constituents typically include a reinforcement, such as fibers or particles, and a matrix, such as a polymer, metal, or ceramic. The reinforcement bears most of the load and provides strength and stiffness, while the matrix binds the reinforcement, protects it, and transfers stress.

Common categories include polymer matrix composites (PMCs) with glass, carbon, or aramid fibers; metal matrix composites (MMCs) with aluminum, magnesium, or silicon carbide; and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) with silicon carbide or alumina reinforcements in a ceramic matrix. Matrices are usually thermosets (epoxy, polyester) or thermoplastics (polypropylene, PEEK), or metal/ceramic in rarer cases.

Manufacturing methods include layup, filament winding, pultrusion, resin transfer molding, and autoclave curing for PMCs; extrusion and casting for some MMCs and CMCs. Properties are highly anisotropic, with high strength and stiffness along the reinforcement direction and relatively low density for PMCs, along with good corrosion resistance and tailorable thermal properties. Limitations include moisture absorption for some polymers, cost, processing complexity, and challenges in joining or recycling.

Applications span aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, wind energy, and construction. Sustainability concerns focus on recycling and end-of-life management for thermoset composites, while ongoing research aims to improve recyclability and reduce environmental impact through new chemistries and bio-based matrices.