BLACK ALUMINUM
#OneWordFromAnisoprintingWorld
This is the series of terms through which you can learn anisoprinting basics. In the previous chapter, we’ve covered the problem of working with composites in the same way as with metals ignoring the difference in their natures. Read below about “black aluminum” — a popular example of this approach.
Reinforced composites have high stiffness and strength along the direction of the fibers, but not across.
That’s usually considered as a drawback. To overcome this, composites are often produced by laying up plies with different directions of fibers on each other. The most well-known layup for laminated composites is [0°, 90°,+45°, -45°]. This is a quasi-isotropic laminate which in case of carbon fiber reinforcement is also called “black aluminum”.
It has this name because of the similar strength and application that aluminum has. For example, black aluminum can be used for the wing and fuselage of the aircraft.
However, with this laying of the plies the properties of the composite are distributed in all directions, so the strength is significantly reduced.
This approach doesn’t allow you to use the full potential of the material. It is actually an attempt to work with composites in the same way as with metals without considering its anisotropic nature.
Wait, what means anisotropic? You’ll learn it in the next word.
