Polymer Matrix Composite Materials for Aerospace Applications

Polymer composites are considered as one of the most important materials used for high performance applications, and are replaced many of the conventional metallic components in the recent past because of their lightweight and efficient strength and amenable processing characteristics. The major advantages of polymer composites are their ease of fabrication into complex structural shapes, replacement of traditional materials with considerable weight reduction, improved reliability and increased fuel economy in the case of vehicles. Modern technological development wants consistent high performance composite materials that are light-weight and have outstanding electrical insulation, thermal, mechanical and environmental properties. The usage of polymer composites in transportation industries has gradually improved over the past few eras fetching a breakthrough argument in the method vehicles are intended and fabricated. Considering at the aeronautics sectors, which continuously attempts to decrease its influence on the environment, according to the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe (ACARE) intentions for 75% reduction in CO2 releases per traveler kilometer compared to 2000. In this regard, at present, aerospace sector uses the polymer composite materials in the primary and secondary structures of aerospace components to replace the current metals to reduce the weight of aircraft and to increase the fuel efficiency. Currently, 50%–53% of polymer composite materials are used in aerospace structure (Airbus A350 (2007) and Boeing B787 (2013)). The present article presents an outline of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, reinforcements used in aerospace sector, including their properties and applications.