Evaluation of Amorphous Ribbon Reinforced Resin Matrix Composites.

Ribbon reinforced composites are attractive as structural materials since relatively isotropic in-plane properties are achieved if the ribbon aspect ratio is sufficiently high. Recent advances in the production of amorphous metal ribbons on a continuos basis have resulted in a ribbon material which exhibits unique properties and is potentially low cost. Commercially available amorphous metal ribbon materials were used in this investigation to reinforce resin matrices. Typical ribbon properties were a density of 8.02 gm/cc, tensile strengths in the range of 2550-2900 MPa, tensile modulus of 165 GPa, and aspect ratios, w/t, up to 380. The longitudinal properties of the composites developed were in agreement with the simple rule of mixtures. The transverse composite properties were dependent on ribbon aspect ratio and the ribbon stacking pattern. The composites developed were compared on a specific property basis to currently used quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy. It was demonstrated that amorphous metal ribbon reinforced resins are competitive with quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy on a specific strength basis. However, amorphous metal ribbon reinforced resins are not competitive on a specific modulus basis. Due to the relatively invariant nature of the specific modulus of amorphous metal ribbon materials, no improvement is expected in this regard. It was concluded that these composites would not be in a competitive position for most high performance composite applications, particularly in the aerospace industry.