Advantages of Composites in Aerospace

1. Composite materials are used more and more for primary structures in commercial, industrial, aerospace, marine, and recreational structures. 2. Composites materials consist of a fibrous reinforcements bonded together with a matrix material. 3. Occur naturally in your bones, in wood, horns etc. 4. Allow the stiffness and strength of the material to change with direction of loading .
Composition of Composites: Fiber/Filament Reinforcement + Matrix = Composite {High Strength} {High Stiffness} +{Good shear properties} = {High strength } {Low density} +{Low density} = {High stiffness},{Good shear Properties} Advanced composites do not corrode like metals the combination of corrosion and fatigue cracking is a significant problem for aluminum commercial fuselage structure.

Advantages of composite materials

Cost: parts manufactured without machining phase and, depending on the technique, low investment levels in tools Excellent weight/mechanical strength ratio Possibility of insert overmoulding and adjunction of accessories Perfectly suited to aesthetics of modern, functional shapes Does not corrodes Good resistance to ageing, even outdoors (UV, thermal shocks, etc.) Self-extinguishing, non toxicity of gases Thermal, electric and phonic insulation Possibility of obtaining complex shapes and integrating functions

Lightweight: Composites are incredibly lightweight, especially in comparison to materials like concrete, metal, and wood. Often a composite structure will weigh 1/4 that of a steel structure with the same strength. That means, a car made from composites can weigh 1 1/4 that of a car made from steel. This equates to serious fuel savings. High Strength: Composite materials are extremely strong, especially per unit of weight. An example of this are the high tenacity structural fibers used in composites such as aramid and SGlass, which are widely used in body armor. Due to high strength composites, soldiers are well protected from blast and ballistic threats.

Corrosion and Chemical Resistance: Composites are highly resistant to chemicals and will never rust or corrode. This is why the marine industry was one of the first to adopt the use of composites. Boats made with fiberglass can stay in the highly corrosive salt water without rusting.

Elastic: Fiber reinforced composites have excellent elastic properties. When one bends metal, it will yield or dent. However, when composites are bent, they want to naturally snap back into place. This feature is ideal for springs, and is why composites are used in car leaf springs and in the limbs of archery bows.

Non-Conductive: Certain composites, such as composite made with fiberglass, are non-conductive. This is important because often a structure is needed that is strong, yet will not conduct electricity. An example of this are ladders. Aluminum ladders can be an electrocution hazard, while ladders made with fiberglass are not a risk if the ladder was to cross a power line.