Leading-edge Composite Material Research

This book presents new and significant research progress on composite materials which are engineered materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties and which remain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level within the finished structure. Fibre Reinforced Polymers or FRPs include Wood comprising (cellulose fibres in a lignin and hemicellulose matrix), Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic or CFRP, Glass-fibre reinforced plastic or GFRP (also GRP). If classified by matrix then there are Thermoplastic Composites, short fibre thermoplastics, long fibre thermoplastics or long fibre reinforced thermoplastics There are numerous thermoset composites, but advanced systems usually incorporate aramid fibre and carbon fibre in an epoxy resin matrix. Composites can also utilise metal fibres reinforcing other metals, as in Metal matrix composites or MMC. Ceramic matrix composites include Bone (hydroxyapatite reinforced with collagen fibres), Cermet (ceramic and metal) and Concrete. Organic matrix/ceramic aggregate composites include Asphalt concrete, Mastic asphalt, Mastic roller hybrid, Dental composite, Syntactic foam and Mother of Pearl. Chobham armour is a special composite used in military applications. Engineered wood includes a wide variety of different products such as Plywood, Oriented strand board, Wood plastic composite (recycled wood fibre in polyethylene matrix), Pykrete (sawdust in ice matrix), Plastic-impregnated or laminated paper or textiles, Arborite, Formica (plastic) and Micarta. Composite materials have gained popularity (despite their generally high cost) in high-performance products such as aerospace components (tails, wings , fuselages, propellors), boat and scull hulls, and racing car bodies. More mundane uses include fishing rods and storage tanks.