A composite, by definition, contains more than one component. A composite material therefore has unique properties which are different from the individual constituents of which it is made. They are used in a wide variety of markets, including aerospace, automotive, battery manufacturing as well as in buildings and wind turbine blades. Specifically, composites have gained popularity in the automotive industry for their lightweight and cost-effective benefits.
Automotive manufacturers are using composites to help reduce vehicle emissions and improve energy efficiency, therefore it is important they get a good understanding of the material properties such as glass transition and the cure behavior. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is one of the most appropriate methods to investigate these properties / relaxation events. This application note utilizing a PerkinElmer DMA 8000, describes experiments performed on a powder filled composite of epoxy polymer intended for battery manufacture.