Assignment 10

Composite Making

Introduction

A composite is a material made from two or more different materials that, when combined, are stronger than those individual materials by themselves. Simply put, composites are a combination of components.

IN this assignment I and Amit learned about composites and how differenr materials wih different materials with different individual properties be bonded together using a mixture of resin and hardner to make a stronger material with its own set of properties. We worked on making a composite out of jute cloth and the material used in the normal cloth bags and made a mousepad for our daily usage.

The Process

Step 1 : Making the mixture

To form the pouring mixture for the composite we first mix the resin and the hardener in the ratio of 2:1 and then mix them using a spatula until its gives off some heat.

Step 2 : Preparing the various materials to be used in the mixture. Here we take the materials , clean them and then cut thenm in the desired sizes.

Step 3 : Then we pour the mixture into the layers and spread them. We apply the next coat and use another material on top and again apply one layer of the mixture. We continue the process till desired.

Step 4 : We then keep wipe off the excess mixture and keep the composite pressed under two kitchen foil coated plane surfaces with a heavy weight on top.

Step 5 : We let it dry for around 2-3 days and take out our composite and laser cut it according to our need.

The Finished Composite

Problems Faced and Precautions to Take

• The surfaces used below and above the composite to hold in place while making it should be coated with a kitchen foil so that the composite doesnt stick to the surfaces.
• Enough weight must be used on top of the composite when kept for hardening otherwise we wond get a strong and good finished product.
• The ratio of the resin and the hardener should be kept in mind.