Advanced composite materials of the future in aerospace industry

Abstract

Since Orville and Wilbur Wright first decided to power their Flyer with a purpose built, cast aluminium engine to meet the specific requirements for power to weight ratio, new materials have been necessary to improve and advance aviation. This improvement in material properties has helped us to travel quickly and inexpensively around the world, by improving the performance and operations of modern aircraft. In the first part of this study the author introduces the composites materials with their advantages and disadvantages. Airbus and its innovation in composite materials are introduced in the second part of the thesis. Composite technology continues to advance, and the advent of new types such as nanotube forms is certain to accelerate and extend composite usage. This issue is introduced in the last part of this thesis. Anyway, a continuing trend in material development is the improvement in processing and production of incumbent materials to either improve physical properties or to allow their application in new areas and roles for further usage in the future.

Keywords

• composites
• nanotube technology
• carbon fibres
• matrix
• fibre reinforcement