Composite Materials in the aerospace industry

What are composites?

• Composite materials are composed of two or more constituents stuck together with an epoxy

• These constituents have different physical and chemical properties that allow them to remain separate in the final structure

• The constituents are layered on top of each other as shown above

Why do we use composites?

• Composites are used in the aerospace industry because they provide benefits that their substitute materials cannot.

• The plane that uses composites the most in aerospace is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Boeing 787

Airbus’ use of composites

Aircrafts built using composites

% made from Composites

Airbus A320 10%

Airbus A380 25%

Airbus A400 M 30-35%

Airbus A350 53%

Benefit to aerospace companies

• The largest benefit of composite materials in aircraft structure is the light weight of the material.

• Boeing 787 consumes 20% less fuel than the similar sized 767

• Another benefit is the machining required to manufacture composite materials.

• The machines are smaller and much cheaper than machines used to manufacture metal materials.

Benefit to aerospace companies

Disadvantages of composites

• The manufacturing process of composite materials has not been perfected.

• The process of perfecting it is time inefficient because companies must perfect it with trial and error.

Composites expanding to other industries

• The new Lenovo laptop is structured with carbon composite materials

• Composites are now being used in the new z06 Chevy Corvette

• Composites make up the body and the hood.

Composites expanding to other industries

Web links

efunda Composite Information

Appropedia: Information about composites in the aerospace industry

myyellowcoat: Nature of Composite

Works cited • "EFunda: Introduction to Composite Materials." EFunda:

The Ultimate Online Reference for Engineers. 2012. Web. 07 Nov 2012. <http://www.efunda.com/formulae/solid_mechanics/composites/comp_intro.cfm>.

• Hahn, Prof H.Thomas. " Journal of Composite Materials ." Jcm. SAGE Publications , 2012. Web. 08 Nov 2012. <http://jcm.sagepub.com>.

• "Putting it together – the science and technology of composite materials - Academy of Science." Home - Australian Academy of Science . 2000. Web. 11 Nov 2012. <http://www.science.org.au/nova/059/059key.html>.