Aviation

In aviation, the performance criteria required for materials can be much higher than in other sectors. Composite materials are particularly attractive for aerospace applications due to their exceptional strength, stiffness-to-density ratios and superior physical properties. A composite material typically consists of relatively strong, rigid fibers in a hard resin matrix. Composites, with their superior mechanical properties and lightweight structure, are used in aircraft interior components and structural parts. Concorde aircraft produced in the mid-1970s used 8% composite materials. Of today’s aircraft, 50% of the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 models are made of composite materials. The use of composite materials in spacecraft and rockets has significantly extended flight ranges. Composite materials are also used extensively in fighter jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.