Composite material for garden tool

[gardentool]

My father has invented a new garden weeder. Currently we are pursuing Stainless steel for it's construction. He is now developing a smaller, lighter version and we thought it be advantageous to make the handle and blade from recycled materials or composite plastics. Is there a source that can be molded into a blade strong enough to dig into dirt, clay and rocks?

 

[rajasai]

Carbon fiber would be your best bet for the blade. A plain weave pattern and lay it up in a 0,+45,90,90,-45, and 0 ply orientation.

 

[CoryPad]

I think you will find that fiber-reinforced composites are poor choices for a blade. Dirt, clay and rocks will damage these materials. It is hard to beat steel for this application. For the handle, the composites are ideal. Use an adhesive to join the two.

 

[RPstress]

You might save a bit of weight by having a metallic (probably steel) edge bonded (maybe mechanically fastened) to a carbon or glass laminate.

I don't think that a composite by itself would suit. Wear alone would make it very difficult to find a polymer matrix composite solution without a metallic edge.

Any shock loading would also make a laminate less appropriate as a solution. If there's much in the way of impacts you might get away with a 3D weave, or possibly a stitched laminate, with a metallic edge.