Applications
Continually growing in popularity, composites are used in a wide variety of industries:
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Industry Spotlight: Aviation
Modern aviation, both military and civilian, is a prime example for use of composites. Demands made by the aviation industry for materials that are both light and strong have been the main force driving the development of composites.
It is common now to find wing and tail sections, propellers and rotor blades made from advanced composites, along with much of the internal structure and fittings. The airframes of some smaller aircraft are made entirely from composites, as are the wing, tail and body panels of large commercial aircraft.
In thinking about planes, it is worth remembering that composites are less likely than metals (such as aluminium) to break up completely under stress. The fibers in a composite act to block the widening of any small crack and to share the stress around.
The right composites also stand up well to heat and corrosion. This makes them ideal for use in products that are exposed to extreme environments such as boats, chemical-handling equipment and spacecraft. In general, composite materials are very durable.
Another advantage of composite materials is that they provide design flexibility. Composites can be moulded into complex shapes – a great asset when producing something like a surfboard or a boat hull.